Ant repellent effect of the sternal gland secretion of Polistes dominulus (Christ) and P. sulcifer (Zimmermann). (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Abstract

The long-chain carboxylic acids identified in the sternal gland secretion of Polistes dominulus and P. sulcifer females were tested individually on three species of ants, Crematogaster scutellaris, Formica cunicularia, and Lasius sp., in order to verify if they have a repellent effect. The unsaturated acids (palmitoleic, linoleic, and oleic) act as repellents of all three ant species, while the saturated acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic) have no effect. The mixture reproducing the secretion of the sternal glands of P. dominulus maintained its repellency for at least four days. © 1996 Plenum Publishing Corporation.