Ant queens deposit pheromones and antimicrobial agents on eggs

Meer, Robert Κ. Vander; Morel, Laurence

doi:10.1007/bf01140150

Cited by 45 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The proportion of cis piperidines was found to gradually increase in the venom of queens as they became fully reproductive (Eliyahu et al, 2011). Queens apply their venoms over eggs as they are laid, presumably for protecting eggs from entomopathogenic fungi (Vander Meer and Morel, 1995;Tschinkel, 2006). These alkaloids in queens may not necessarily function as defensive compounds as in workers (Blum et al, 1958;Javors et al, 1993), but conceivably as queen pheromones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These alkaloids in queens may not necessarily function as defensive compounds as in workers (Blum et al, 1958;Javors et al, 1993), but conceivably as queen pheromones. Venom alkaloids on the surface of eggs may play a role in advertising the presence and fertility status of queens (Vander Meer and Morel, 1995;Eliyahu et al, 2011). The workers are aggressive defenders against nest disturbance; however, queens move away from disturbances and seldom attempt to sting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Workers and alate queens of Solenopsis geminata share qualitatively similar but quantitatively different venom alkaloid chemistry

Shi

Wang

et al. 2015

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workers and alate queens of Solenopsis geminata share qualitatively similar but quantitatively different venom alkaloid chemistry

Shi

Wang

et al. 2015

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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“…The glandular content could serve as a sex pheromone, explaining its reduction in mated queens (Vander Meer et al 1998;Buschinger 2003). Alternatively, but not exclusively, mated queens could regularly discharge their abdominal glands during contests as well as other marking-related behaviours (Vander Meer and Morel 1995;Bhadra et al 2007). In two species of ants, Dinoponera quadriceps and A. cockerelli, the gamergates (reproductive workers) and queens, respectively, discharge the content of their Dufour's gland onto challenging workers with developed ovaries (Monnin et al 2002;Smith et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition of caste and mating status maintains monogyny in the ant Aphaenogaster senilis

Ruel¹,

Hefetz²,

Cerdá³

et al. 2013

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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In ants dispersing through colony fission, queens mate near their natal nest and found a new society with the help of workers. This allows potential future queens to challenge the mother queen's reproductive monopoly. Conflicts might be resolved if the mated queen signals her presence and the workers control the developmental fate of the diploid larvae (whether they develop to worker or queen). In this study we sought to determine whether, in the fissionperforming ant Aphaenogaster senilis, conflicts between queens for control of the colony are resolved by the resident queen signalling her mating status. Virgin queens were less effective than newly mated queens in inhibiting queen rearing. Moreover, potential challenger queens were recognized and heavily aggressed independent of mating status. Chemical analyses showed that mating status was associated with changes in cuticular hydrocarbon and poison gland composition, but not in Dufour's gland composition. Cuticular dimethylalkanes were identified as potential constituents that signal both caste (present in queens only) and mating status (mated queens have higher amounts). We hypothesised that pheromone emission by virgin queens did not reach the threshold needed to fully inhibit larval development into queens but was sufficiently high to stimulate overt aggression by mated queens. These findings provide evidence for the complexity of chemical communication in social insects, in which a small number of signals may have a variety of effects, depending on the context.

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“…In Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972 and Pachycondyla goeldii (Forel, 1912), for example, defensive and/or offensive venoms are also used as antiseptic substances for nest and brood hygiene (14,15).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The poison gland is another common source of antimicrobial substances in ants like Solenopsis invicta, Pachycondyla goeldii and Myrmecia pilosula Smith, F., 1858. In S. invicta, alkaloid venoms applied to eggs by the queen inhibit the growth of entomopathogenic fungi (14). In P. goeldii, the venom contains peptides (ponericines) with strong antimicrobial properties that may act as cleaning agents before prey is brought into the nest (15).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antibacterial properties of contact defensive secretions in neotropical Crematogaster ants

Quinet

Vieira

Sousa

et al. 2012

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis

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Abstract:Crematogaster ants use their contact venoms to compete with other ants. Although those venoms are used primarily as repellent and toxic secretions, they may have other functions. The present study aimed to test the antibacterial property of abdominal venom of three neotropical Crematogaster ant species (C. distans, C. pygmaea and C. rochai) against gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Sterile filter paper was soaked with C. distans, C. pygmaea or C. rochai crude venom and placed on an agar dish that was inoculated with bacterial suspensions. The agar dish was incubated overnight at 37°C and examined for zones of growth inhibition. For each tested venom and bacterial strain, three venom concentrations were used, with six replicates for each concentration: 1, 2 and 4 DGE (Dufour's gland equivalent). The venom of C. pygmaea, but not those of C. rochai and C. distans, inhibited the growth of all tested gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. This is the first evidence of antibacterial properties of contact venoms in Crematogaster ants and it supports the claim that ant venoms are multifunctional. It is hypothesized that only C. pygmaea venom showed antibacterial activities due to its nesting habits.

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Ant queens deposit pheromones and antimicrobial agents on eggs

Cited by 45 publications

References 17 publications

Workers and alate queens of Solenopsis geminata share qualitatively similar but quantitatively different venom alkaloid chemistry

Workers and alate queens of Solenopsis geminata share qualitatively similar but quantitatively different venom alkaloid chemistry

Recognition of caste and mating status maintains monogyny in the ant Aphaenogaster senilis

Antibacterial properties of contact defensive secretions in neotropical Crematogaster ants

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