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Interference of β-eudesmol in nestmate recognition in Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2008

C.G.S. Marinho ,
T.M.C. Della Lucia ,
M.M.R. Ribeiro ,
S.T.V. Magalhães ,
R.N.C. Guedes  and
G.N. Jham
C.G.S. Marinho*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
T.M.C. Della Lucia
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
M.M.R. Ribeiro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
S.T.V. Magalhães
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
R.N.C. Guedes
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
G.N. Jham
Affiliation:
Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: 55 31 3899 4012 E-mail: marinho@insecta.ufv.br
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Abstract

Leaf-cutter ant species (Atta spp.) are key pests of cultivated crops in the Neotropics, and recent studies have demonstrated that workers of Atta spp., particularly of Atta sexdens rubropilosa, exhibit aggressive behavior among nestmates when in contact with the sesquiterpene β-eudesmol, found in leaves of Eucalyptus maculata. However, the underlying mechanism sparking this behavior pattern has yet to be investigated. This work aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which this substance elicits aggression in workers of A. sexdens rubropilosa. The results, thus obtained, showed that β-eudesmol is able to modify the chemical composition of the workers cuticle, impairing nestmate recognition, triggering alarm behavior and leading to nestmate aggression.

Keywords

Eucalyptus maculataleaf-cutting antsaggressive behaviorcuticular hydrocarbonsalarm pheromone
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 98 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 467 - 473
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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