The opilionid,Stygnomma spinifera, secretes from a pair of exocrine glands on the cephalothorax between the first and second pair of legs a major volatile component, 2-methyl-5-ethylphenol, and two minor components, 2,3-dimethylphenol and 2,3-dimethyl-5-ethylphenol. These alkylphenols are constituents of a defensive secretion and repel ants, a natural predator of opilionids. The probable significance of this secretion in the biology ofS. spinifera and in the defensive strategies of opilionids in general is discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.