The species specificity of trail pheromones of fire ants, Solenopsis spp., has been studied by Wilson (1962; Anim. Behav. 10: 137-47) and Barlin, Blum, and Brand (1976; J, Insect Physiol. 22: 839-44). Our study, stimulated by taxonomic advances since Wilson\u27s work and conducted concurrently with that of Barlin et al., is presented here to confirm and supplement the latters\u27 observations, and to report some differences in results

Banks, W. A.

Carlson, D. A.

Jouvenaz, D. P.

Lofgren, C. S.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
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Entomology Papers from Other Sources Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous 
1978 
Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four Species of Fire Ants 
D. P. Jouvenaz 
USDA 
C. S. Lofgren 
USDA 
D. A. Carlson 
USDA 
W. A. Banks 
USDA 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Jouvenaz, D. P.; Lofgren, C. S.; Carlson, D. A.; and Banks, W. A., "Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four 
Species of Fire Ants" (1978). Entomology Papers from Other Sources. 8. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother/8 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Entomology Papers from 
Other Sources by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
The Florida Entomologist 
SPECIFICITY OF THE TRAIL PHEROMONES OF FOUR SPECIES 
OF FIRE ANTS, SOLENOPSIS SPP.-(Note). The species specificity of 
trail pheromones of fire ants, Solenopsis spp., has been studied by Wilson 
(1962; Anim. Behav. 10: 137-47) and Barlin, Blum, and Brand (1976; J, 
Insect Physiol. 22: 839-44). Our study, stimulated by taxonomic advances 
since Wilson's work and conducted concurrently with that of Barlin et al., 
is presented here to confirm and supplement the latters' observations, and 
to report some differences in results. 
Early studies on the chemistry of trail pheromones convinced us that 
extracts of whole ants could be used just as readily as Dufour's glands 
(source of the pheromone). Therefore, extracts were prepared by grinding 
1.0 g whole, frozen (-20?) ants with 2g anhydrous Na,SO4, prefiltering 
with purified n-hexane, and fractionating by silica gel column chromato- 
graphy followed by silica gel thin layer chromatography. These partially 
purified extracts contained several unsaturated hydrocarbons (determined 
by gas chromatography) and were used without further purification. Bio- 
assays consisted of interchanging blotter papers upon which artificial or 
natural trails had been made. The test trails were curved and bound by 
pencil lines. Serial dilutions of the extracts were tested until we could 
determine the lowest concentration at which ants traced, reinforced, 
and established a trail wholly within bounds. Each concentration was tested 
at least twice on each of 3 different colonies of ants (minimum of 6 replica- 
tions). We also conducted tests using natural trails, but in many cases the 
responses were erratic. Barlin et al. also used a bioassay based on an inter- 
change of papers with natural or artificial trails, but their criteria for 
activity were based on the response of the fire ants following the trail. They 
give no indication of the number of colonies tested or the number of replica- 
tions. 
With 2 exceptions, our data essentially agree with that of Barlin et al. 
Both studies indicate that the imported species, S. invicta and S. richteri, 
readily follow each other's trails and that the native species, S. geminata 
and S. xyloni, also readily follow each other's trails. Our S. geminata readily 
followed both natural and artificial trails of S. invicta, but not vice versa, 
whereas Barlin et al. reported that S. geminata and S. invicta would not 
follow each other's trails. Wilson's S. geminata (obtained in Costa Rica and 
almost certainly differing from S. geminata in the United States-W. F. 
Buren, personal communication) followed trails of S. saevissima ( =S 
invicta), but not as vigorously as did ours. Our S. richteri did not follow 
artificial trails of S. xyloni readily or natural trails at all, whereas the 
S. richteri of Barlin et al. followed artificial trails of S. xyloni readily, but 
natural trails not at all. Wilson did not test S. richteri.-D. P. Jouvenaz, 
C. S. Lofgren, D. A. Carlson, and W. A. Banks, Insects Affecting Man and 
Animals Research Laboratory, USDA, SEA, FR, Gainesville, Fla. 32604. 
244 Vol. 61, No. 4, 1978 
The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 61, No. 4 (Dec., 1978), p. 244
Published by Florida Entomological Society


Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four Species of Fire Ants

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Entomology Papers from Other Sources Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous 1978 Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four Species of Fire Ants D. P. Jouvenaz USDA C. S. Lofgren USDA D. A. Carlson USDA W. A. Banks USDA Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother  Part of the Entomology Commons Jouvenaz, D. P.; Lofgren, C. S.; Carlson, D. A.; and Banks, W. A., "Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four Species of Fire Ants" (1978). Entomology Papers from Other Sources. 8. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyother/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology Collections, Miscellaneous at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Entomology Papers from Other Sources by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The Florida Entomologist SPECIFICITY OF THE TRAIL PHEROMONES OF FOUR SPECIES OF FIRE ANTS, SOLENOPSIS SPP.-(Note). The species specificity of trail pheromones of fire ants, Solenopsis spp., has been studied by Wilson (1962; Anim. Behav. 10: 137-47) and Barlin, Blum, and Brand (1976; J, Insect Physiol. 22: 839-44). Our study, stimulated by taxonomic advances since Wilson's work and conducted concurrently with that of Barlin et al., is presented here to confirm and supplement the latters' observations, and to report some differences in results. Early studies on the chemistry of trail pheromones convinced us that extracts of whole ants could be used just as readily as Dufour's glands (source of the pheromone). Therefore, extracts were prepared by grinding 1.0 g whole, frozen (-20?) ants with 2g anhydrous Na,SO4, prefiltering with purified n-hexane, and fractionating by silica gel column chromato- graphy followed by silica gel thin layer chromatography. These partially purified extracts contained several unsaturated hydrocarbons (determined by gas chromatography) and were used without further purification. Bio- assays consisted of interchanging blotter papers upon which artificial or natural trails had been made. The test trails were curved and bound by pencil lines. Serial dilutions of the extracts were tested until we could determine the lowest concentration at which ants traced, reinforced, and established a trail wholly within bounds. Each concentration was tested at least twice on each of 3 different colonies of ants (minimum of 6 replica- tions). We also conducted tests using natural trails, but in many cases the responses were erratic. Barlin et al. also used a bioassay based on an inter- change of papers with natural or artificial trails, but their criteria for activity were based on the response of the fire ants following the trail. They give no indication of the number of colonies tested or the number of replica- tions. With 2 exceptions, our data essentially agree with that of Barlin et al. Both studies indicate that the imported species, S. invicta and S. richteri, readily follow each other's trails and that the native species, S. geminata and S. xyloni, also readily follow each other's trails. Our S. geminata readily followed both natural and artificial trails of S. invicta, but not vice versa, whereas Barlin et al. reported that S. geminata and S. invicta would not follow each other's trails. Wilson's S. geminata (obtained in Costa Rica and almost certainly differing from S. geminata in the United States-W. F. Buren, personal communication) followed trails of S. saevissima ( =S invicta), but not as vigorously as did ours. Our S. richteri did not follow artificial trails of S. xyloni readily or natural trails at all, whereas the S. richteri of Barlin et al. followed artificial trails of S. xyloni readily, but natural trails not at all. Wilson did not test S. richteri.-D. P. Jouvenaz, C. S. Lofgren, D. A. Carlson, and W. A. Banks, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, USDA, SEA, FR, Gainesville, Fla. 32604. 244 Vol. 61, No. 4, 1978 The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 61, No. 4 (Dec., 1978), p. 244Published by Florida Entomological Society

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Specificity of the Trail Pheromones of Four Species of Fire Ants

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