Abstract:
The African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda, is used as a biological control agent for the
management of pests. The ant has several exocrine glands in the abdomen, including Dufour’s,
poison, rectal, and sternal glands, which are associated with pheromone secretions for intra-specific
communication. Previous studies have analyzed the gland secretions of Dufour’s and poison glands.
The chemistry of the rectal and sternal glands is unknown. We re-analyzed the secretions from
Dufour’s and poison glands plus the rectal and sternal glands to compare their chemistries and
identify additional components. We used the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique to collect
gland headspace volatiles and solvent extraction for the secretions. Coupled gas chromatography–
mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis detected a total of 78 components, of which 62 were being
reported for the first time. These additional components included 32 hydrocarbons, 12 carboxylic
acids, 5 aldehydes, 3 alcohols, 2 ketones, 4 terpenes, 3 sterols, and 1 benzenoid. The chemistry
of Dufour’s and poison glands showed a strong overlap and was distinct from that of the rectal
and sternal glands. The different gland mixtures may contribute to the different physiological and
behavioral functions in this ant species.
