Department of Chemistry, Keele University, ST5 5BG, Staffordshire, England.
J Chem Ecol. 1996 May;22(5):987-1000. doi: 10.1007/BF02029949.
The chemical composition of the secretions of the metapleural glands of workers and soldiers of twoAtta species,Atta sexdens rubropilosa andA. cephalotes, and workers ofAcromyrmex octospinosus, has been studied. As indicated by infrared spectrometry and confirmed by the ninhydrin test, the secretions contain chiefly proteins. Of the volatile acidic portion, which is present as ionized salts, phenylacetic acid is the major component in workers and soldiers ofA. s. rubropilosa andA. cephalotes. BothAtta species also contain 3-hydroxydecanoic acid and its homolog as minor components together with indoleacetic acid. While there are qualitative similarities in the acidic composition in the secretions ofA. s. rubropilosa andA. cephalotes, they differ quantitatively. The secretion ofAcromyrmex octospinosus contains 3-hydroxydecanoic and indoleacetic acids, but lacks phenylacetic acid. The bactericidal and fungicidal actions of the three major substances have been confirmed.
已经研究了两种 Atta 种，即 Atta sexdens rubropilosa 和 A. cephalotes 的工蚁和兵蚁以及 Acromyrmex octospinosus 的工蚁的侧膜腺分泌物的化学成分。红外光谱表明并经茚三酮试验证实，分泌物主要含有蛋白质。挥发性酸性部分以离子盐形式存在，苯乙酸是 A. s. rubropilosa 和 A. cephalotes 的工蚁和兵蚁中的主要成分。这两个 Atta 种还含有 3-羟基癸酸及其同系物作为次要成分，以及吲哚乙酸。虽然 A. s. rubropilosa 和 A. cephalotes 的分泌物中的酸性成分具有定性相似性，但它们在数量上有所不同。Acromyrmex octospinosus 的分泌物含有 3-羟基癸酸和吲哚乙酸，但缺乏苯乙酸。已经证实了这三种主要物质的杀菌和抑菌作用。
