Functional morphology of the metapleural gland in workers of the ant Crematogaster inflata (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Billen, Johan; Hashim, Rosli; Ito, Fuminori

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2011.00230.x

Cited by 13 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Since they do not have the purported pressure that soil inhabiting ant species have to produce antimicrobial defenses, their MGs were expected to be non-functional and atrophied (Hölldobler and Engel-Siegel 1985). Instead, their MGs are highly developed; in fact, C. inflata has the largest known MGs (measured by secretory cell counts, Billen et al 2011). Metapleural gland chemistry has been reported for C. difformis in two reports, one using samples collected from Malaysia (Attygalle et al 1989) and the other from Brunei (Jones et al 2005).…”

Section: Crematogastermentioning

confidence: 95%

“…When minimum inhibitory concentrations from Kabara et al (1972) are compared with the amount of each of the four carboxylic acids found by Cabrera et al (2004), it is clear that one (S. geminata) or two of the acids (S. invicta) are at a concentration high enough to inhibit bacterial growth (Table 2), especially since the MG reservoir volume is likely much less than 1 μl. The hypertrophied MG reservoir volume for Crematogaster inflata is about 0.1 μl (data in Billen et al 2011).…”

Section: Solenopsis-fire Antsmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Ant Interactions with Soil Organisms and Associated Semiochemicals

Meer

2012

J Chem Ecol

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This review focuses on the semiochemical interactions between ants and their soil environment. Ants occupy virtually every ecological niche and have evolved mechanisms to not just cope with, but also manipulate soil organisms. The metapleural gland, specific to ants was thought to be the major source of semiochemical antimicrobial compounds targeting general or specific deleterious microbes. The extremely diverse variety of semiochemicals and their sources with antimicrobial activity or potential activity is highlighted. The leaf-cutting ants and fire ant provide the most researched species, in part because they cause significant economic damage. The leaf-cutting ant is particularly interesting because researchers have uncovered unexpected interactions between leaf-cutting ant fungal farm, parasitic fungi, bacteria, yeasts, and ant defensive semiochemicals. These complex relationships highlight the multidimensional aspects of ants and the soil environment in which they live.

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Section: Crematogastermentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Solenopsis-fire Antsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Ant Interactions with Soil Organisms and Associated Semiochemicals

Meer

2012

J Chem Ecol

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“…As C. saundersi had higher diversity and quantity of chemicals, including several noxious ones (e. g.: 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone), than P. furcata, its polyrhachis-furcata spores and also at a similar level to Fungizone. These results are not surprising because the chemical secretion from metapleural glands of ants were largely reported to be antiseptic or antimicrobial (Attygalle et al 1989, Morgan 2008, Billen et al 2011, Yek and Mueller 2011, Vieira et al 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Ant-produced chemicals are not responsible for the specificity of their Ophiocordyceps fungal pathogens

et al. 2018

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In this study, we investigated the effects of exocrine glandular extracts (mandibular glands, post-pharygeal glands) and cuticular extracts of two species of formicine ant Polyrhachis furcata and Colobopsis saundersi on spore germination of two species of host-specific, entomopathogenic fungi Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (O. polyrhachis-furcata and O. camponoti-saundersi). Extracts from the two ant species inhibited the germination of O. polyrhachis-furcata, but did not affect the germination of O. camponoti-saundersi, invalidating the hypothesis of specificity mediated by exocrine glands. We also showed that metapleural gland extracts-well known for their anti-microbial activities-from ants not targeted by O. unilateralis, inhibited spore germination. Finally, we tested the effect of the glands of the two formicine ants on Beauveria bassiana, a widespread pathogen of insects. Germination of B. bassiana was stimulated by most extracts, suggesting that insect chemicals are used as signals for germination by this fungus. The chemical characterisation of ant glandular extracts was also performed.

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“…Crematogaster ants have well developed metapleural glands (Attygalle et al 1989;Vander Meer, 2012;Tranter et al, 2015). C. inflata that occurs in Southeast Asia has the largest known metapleural glands (measured by counting secretory cells) (Billen et al, 2011). The amount of secretion produced by the metapleural gland and the greater ease of extraction due to size may justify the number of studies performed with Crematogaster ants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glandular Secretions of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A Review on Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Antibiotic Potential

Guarda

Lutinski

2020

Sociobiology

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Ants live under ideal microclimatic conditions for the development of microorganisms. As mechanisms to ensure the health of the colony and as a defense strategy, these insects developed exocrine glands that work in the production of antibiotics (chemical defense) and in the immune defense of the colony. This study aimed to describe the state-of-the-art on extraction methods, chemical characterization and the antibiotic potential of glandular secretions of ants. This is a review of the scientific literature between 1989 and 2017. A total of 52 articles were selected. These addressed the behavior, chemical characterization, the antimicrobial effect and evaluated methods of extraction. The most investigated genera are Atta, Acromyrmexand Crematogaster. The glands most reported in the articles involving extraction of secretions were Dufour, mandibular and metapleural. The most reported methods of extraction were gland maceration and extraction with (organic) solvents and direct extraction of the gland. Most studies evaluated secretions with respect to ant behavior. There is a paucityin the literature about the chemical characterization of most glandular secretions of ants, as well as for most taxa. The same deficiency is observed with regard to prospecting the antibiotic and antifungal potential of these secretions. for most taxa. The same deficiency is observed with regard to prospecting the antibiotic and antifungal potential of these secretions.

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Functional morphology of the metapleural gland in workers of the ant Crematogaster inflata (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Cited by 13 publications

References 15 publications

Ant Interactions with Soil Organisms and Associated Semiochemicals

Ant Interactions with Soil Organisms and Associated Semiochemicals

Ant-produced chemicals are not responsible for the specificity of their Ophiocordyceps fungal pathogens

Glandular Secretions of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A Review on Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Antibiotic Potential

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