Metapleural- and postpharyngeal-gland secretions from workers of the ants Solenopsis invicta and S. geminata

Abstract

Chemical analyses by GC-MS of the metapleural glands (MG) from workers of Solenopsis invicta and S. geminata revealed for the first time the chemical composition of these glands and showed small differences between the two species. The MG of both species contain oleic, stearic, linoleic, and palmitic acid. Both ants, in addition, have small but significant amounts of hydrocarbons in their MG reservoir, which are the same as those found in their postpharyngeal glands (PPG). The PPG of both species contain alkanes, alkenes, and Me-branched alkanes. Each species is characterized by a specific composition of PPG chemicals with some overlap between species. These results suggest that the MG synthesizes mainly palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids in these two ants, whereas PPG contains hydrocarbon mixes that widely vary between these two phylogeneti-cally related species.