Dufour’S Gland Composition in the Desert Ant Cataglyphis:Species Specificity and Population Differences

Abstract

D ufour’s gland secretion of several species of the desert ant C ataglyphis from different geographical localities was analyzed. The secretions constituted mostly of alkanes ranging from undecane to nonadecane. Species specificity is expressed as variations in the major component as well as the relative intensities of the additional constituents. Phylogenetically related species that are allopatric exhibited similar secretory composition whereas their sympatric counterparts had disparate composition, suggesting that character displacement occurred. Analyses of colonies of C. cursor from different localities also showed divergence in their glandular com position. © 1992, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.