The contents of the dufour gland of the ant harpagoxenus sublaevis Nyl. (hymenoptera: Formicidae

Abstract

The volatile components of the Defour gland secrection of workers of the Harpagoxenussublaevis have been analysed by gas chrom atography and mass spectrometry. Over 20 com ponents have been identified, consisting of linear and terpenoid hydrocarbons. Each gland contains approximately 6 ng of hydrocarbons with n-heptadecene (40%) and /i-heptadecadiene (30%) as the m ajor components. Two terpenoid hydrocarbons, (-E)-ß-farnesene and a hom ofarneseneisomer were also identified. © 1987, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.