Use of computerized pattern recognition in the study of the cuticular hydrocarbons of imported fire ants. I. Introduction and characterization of the cuticular hydrocarbon patterns of Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri.

A method is described in which gas chromatographic (GC) data obtained from cuticular hydrocarbons are treated by methods of pattern recognition. Based on a recently described sample preparation procedure, GC data are normalized to eliminate slight variations in chromatographic conditions and converted into the proper format for discriminant analysis by computer. The results of several methods of data treatment and display are discussed, based upon the chemometric system package, ARTHUR. The approach has the advantage of largely removing operator bias.