Venoms and Venom Apparatuses of the Formicidae: Dolichoderinae and Aneuretinae

Abstract

*[In many areas of the world, ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae constitute one of the dominant groups of invertebrates. This is especially true of the American & certain regions of the Old World tropics, where many species of dolichoderine ants form populous colonies. The aggressive & fast-moving workers can represent a formidable force, when unleashed against either invertebrate or vertebrate intruders. Although these formicids lack a penetrating sting, they have an extraordinary defensive capability derived from one of the most varied exocrine arsenals produced by any group of invertebrates. A multitude of unique defensive compounds are biosynthesized in the anal glands, structures which have arisen de novo in the Dolichoderinae & function as both social organs & defensive glands. Among the Formicidae, the anal glands may constitute the chemical arsenal 'par excellence' & are probably, to a great extent, responsible for the success of the dolichoderines in exploiting a multitude of habitats despite intense competition from other groups of ants.]