Use of computerized pattern recognition in the study of the cuticular hydrocarbons of imported fire ants. II. Comparison of the cuticular hydrocarbon patterns between different colonies of Solenopsis richteri.

Gas chromatography (GC) data obtained from the cuticular hydrocarbons of the black imported fire ants 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 to the proper format for discriminant analysis by computer. The results of several methods of data treatment and display are discussed, based on the chemometrics system package, ARTHUR.