Foliar Substrate Affects Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles and Intraspecific Aggression in the Leafcutter Ant Atta sexdens

Abstract

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are traditionally considered to be one of the most important chemical cues used in the nestmate recognition process of social hymenopterans. However, it has been suggested that in the leafcutter ant genus Atta, it is not the CHCs, but the alarm pheromone that is involved in the nestmate recognition process. In this study we used a laboratory population of Atta sexdens to explore the association between their CHC profile variation and intraspecific aggression. In the first part of the experiment, four colonies were divided into two groups with distinct diets to stimulate differentiation of their CHC profiles. In the second part of the experiment, all colonies received the same diet to examine resemblance of chemical profiles. At the end of each part of the experiment we extracted the CHCs from workers. The results demonstrated that colonies that shared the same food resource had similar cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Furthermore, colonies were significantly more aggressive towards conspecifics that used a different foliar substrate and consequently had greater differences in their cuticular chemical composition. This study suggests that the CHC profiles of A. sexdens can be affected by the foliar substrates used, and that the CHCs are used in the nestmate recognition process of this species.

Formicidal activity of indole derivatives on Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier): Lethal, behavioural and locomotive effects

“…The indole derivatives in this work do not seem to alter cuticular hydrocarbons profiles, the main recognition mechanism in ants (Dejean & Corbara, ; Frizzi et al., ; Richard et al., ; Valadares, Nascimento, & Nascimento, ). In species with colonies composed of numerous individuals, such as leaf‐cutting ants, it is appropriate that only one chemical pattern should be memorized by all individuals in the nest (Viana‐Bailez, Bailez, & Malaquias, ).…”

“…The indole derivatives in this work do not seem to alter cuticular hydrocarbons profiles, the main recognition mechanism in ants (Dejean & Corbara, 2014;Frizzi et al, 2015;Richard et al, 2004;Valadares, Nascimento, & Nascimento, 2015). In species The results obtained in the individual locomotive bioassays showed that ants exposed to compounds 4d and 4e walked less, slowed, remained immobile and become disoriented (higher angular velocity) ( Figure 4).…”

Dear Enemy Phenomenon in the Ant Ectatomma brunneum (Formicidae: Ectatomminae): Chemical Signals Mediate Intraspecific Agressive Interactions

“…In this context, some authors have shown that colonies kept under the same diet during a large period can have their CHCs profile modified leading to similarity in composition (e.g. Zweden et al, 2009;Bernardi et al, 2014;Valadares et al, 2015).…”

Chemical disguise of myrmecophilous cockroaches and its implications for understanding nestmate recognition mechanisms in leaf-cutting ants

“…Non-hydrocarbons, in particular volatile substances, appear to be involved in leaf-cutting ant nestmate recognition [ 33 , 34 ]. The overall picture is not entirely clear since the substances in question vary between species and non-volatile substances and hydrocarbons such as those we analysed in this paper also play a role (VN, unpublished data, [ 35 – 37 ]). In any case, our analysis may have missed some very volatile substances from the ants’ glands that could potentially also affect nestmate recognition, and a formal analysis of the substances used in different leaf-cutting ant species would be in order before drawing any final conclusions regarding chemical insignificance in Attaphila cockroaches.…”