The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus spp. (cylindricus complex)

T. H. Jones; D. A. Clark; A. A. Edwards; D. W. Davidson; T. F. Spande; R. R. Snelling

doi:10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28

The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus spp. (cylindricus complex)

T. H. Jones, D. A. Clark, A. A. Edwards, D. W. Davidson, T. F. Spande, R. R. Snelling

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

A detailed comparative analysis of the exocrine chemistry of nine Bruneian Camponotus species in the cylindricus complex is reported. Workers of these species are known to have hypertrophied mandibular glands and release their glandular contents suicidally from the head by rupturing the inter- segmental membrane of the gaster. All of the species produce mixtures of polyacetate-derived aromatics, including hydroxyacetophenones, which display pH-dependent color changes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. In addition, three species contained (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-(2E)-octen-1,8-dioic acid (9) or (3S)-8-hydroxycitro-nellic acid (10a), previously unreported from insects. These compounds were characterized from their spectral data, and confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples. The allomonal role of these compounds is based on numerous field observations, and their chemotaxonomic value is presented.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1479-1492
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Chemical Ecology
Volume	30
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28
State	Published - Aug 2004

Keywords

Camponotus spp.
Formicidae
Hymenoptera
acyclic terpenes
autothysis
chemotaxonomy
polyacetate-derived aromatics
territoriality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Biochemistry

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10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28

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title = "The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus spp. (cylindricus complex)",

abstract = "A detailed comparative analysis of the exocrine chemistry of nine Bruneian Camponotus species in the cylindricus complex is reported. Workers of these species are known to have hypertrophied mandibular glands and release their glandular contents suicidally from the head by rupturing the inter- segmental membrane of the gaster. All of the species produce mixtures of polyacetate-derived aromatics, including hydroxyacetophenones, which display pH-dependent color changes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. In addition, three species contained (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-(2E)-octen-1,8-dioic acid (9) or (3S)-8-hydroxycitro-nellic acid (10a), previously unreported from insects. These compounds were characterized from their spectral data, and confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples. The allomonal role of these compounds is based on numerous field observations, and their chemotaxonomic value is presented.",

keywords = "Camponotus spp., Formicidae, Hymenoptera, acyclic terpenes, autothysis, chemotaxonomy, polyacetate-derived aromatics, territoriality",

author = "Jones, {T. H.} and Clark, {D. A.} and Edwards, {A. A.} and Davidson, {D. W.} and Spande, {T. F.} and Snelling, {R. R.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments—Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, IBN-9707932 (to DWD). We thank officials of University of Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei museums for granting or facilitating permissions to study and collect at Kuala Belalong. We also thank A. Kaliszewska for technical advice and H. Pang Yoke Kiew for logistical assistance. THJ and DAC gratefully acknowledge the support of the VMI Chemistry Department and the VMI Grants in Aid of Research program.",

year = "2004",

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doi = "10.1023/B:JOEC.0000042063.01424.28",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Edwards, A. A.

AU - Davidson, D. W.

AU - Spande, T. F.

AU - Snelling, R. R.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments—Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, IBN-9707932 (to DWD). We thank officials of University of Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei museums for granting or facilitating permissions to study and collect at Kuala Belalong. We also thank A. Kaliszewska for technical advice and H. Pang Yoke Kiew for logistical assistance. THJ and DAC gratefully acknowledge the support of the VMI Chemistry Department and the VMI Grants in Aid of Research program.

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N2 - A detailed comparative analysis of the exocrine chemistry of nine Bruneian Camponotus species in the cylindricus complex is reported. Workers of these species are known to have hypertrophied mandibular glands and release their glandular contents suicidally from the head by rupturing the inter- segmental membrane of the gaster. All of the species produce mixtures of polyacetate-derived aromatics, including hydroxyacetophenones, which display pH-dependent color changes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. In addition, three species contained (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-(2E)-octen-1,8-dioic acid (9) or (3S)-8-hydroxycitro-nellic acid (10a), previously unreported from insects. These compounds were characterized from their spectral data, and confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples. The allomonal role of these compounds is based on numerous field observations, and their chemotaxonomic value is presented.

AB - A detailed comparative analysis of the exocrine chemistry of nine Bruneian Camponotus species in the cylindricus complex is reported. Workers of these species are known to have hypertrophied mandibular glands and release their glandular contents suicidally from the head by rupturing the inter- segmental membrane of the gaster. All of the species produce mixtures of polyacetate-derived aromatics, including hydroxyacetophenones, which display pH-dependent color changes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. In addition, three species contained (6R)-2,6-dimethyl-(2E)-octen-1,8-dioic acid (9) or (3S)-8-hydroxycitro-nellic acid (10a), previously unreported from insects. These compounds were characterized from their spectral data, and confirmed by comparison with synthetic samples. The allomonal role of these compounds is based on numerous field observations, and their chemotaxonomic value is presented.

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KW - territoriality

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The chemistry of exploding ants, Camponotus spp. (cylindricus complex)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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