Volatile chemicals in glands of the carpenter ant, Camponotus arminius

Abstract

Camponotus arminius is a large black carpenter ant that occurs in tropical and sub-tropical Africa and has extensive foraging trails both in trees and on the ground. Analysis of excised mandibular glands has confirmed The presence of pentane-2,4-dione, n-hexanal, 4-methyl-3-heptanone, and mellein. Pentane-2,4-dione has not been reported from insects. The postpharyngeal gland contains n-heneicosane, n-tricosene, n-tricosane, n-pentacosene, n-pentacosane, and a significant amount of 11-methyl- n-tricosane and 11-methyl- n-pentacosane. Dufours glands contain mainly n-undecane, n-tridecane, and two terpenoid compounds that are unknown in the genus Camponotus. These latter two compounds are geranyllinalool and probably geranylfarnesol.