Absolute configuration of solenopsis piperidines is a tool to classify fire ants (Formicidae:Myrmicinae)

Abstract

Piperidine alkaloids are predominant in ant venom glands of S. invicta and S. saevissima. These ants are broadly sympatric in Southeastern Brazil, and potentially diagnostic compounds could assist in ant identification. We determined the absolute configuration of 2,6-dialkyl-piperidines of S. invicta and S. saevissima workers and used these data to group Southeastern Brazil species. The monitoring of venom samples by chiral gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) revealed that S. saevissima produces the four stereoisomers of 2-methyl-6-undecyl-piperidines, 2-methyl-6-tridecyl-piperidines and 2-methyl-6-tridecenyl-piperidines, while S. invicta venom consisted primarily of a single enantiomer cis and trans from each piperidine alkaloid. Our findings showed that the absolute configuration of piperidine alkaloids of fire ant venom may be a potential chemical tool to distinguish S. invicta and S. saevissima sympatric species in Southeastern Brazil.