Review Article

Chemical Recruitment for Foraging in Ants (Formicidae) and Termites (Isoptera): A Revealing Comparison

Table 1

Chemical compounds reported in trail pheromones of ants. All data were extracted from Pherobase [1].

Myrmicinae

Acromyrmex octospinosus
Cross JH 1982. J. Chem. Ecol. 8 : 1119
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 3me5me-2-ethylpyrazine
Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus
Do Nascimento RR 1994. J. Chem. Ecol. 20 : 1719
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Aphaenogaster albisetosus
Hölldobler B 1995 J. Insect Physiol. 41 : 739
 4Sme-7-3Kt
 4Rme-7-3Kt
Aphaenogaster cockerelli
Hölldobler B 1995. J. Insect Physiol. 41 : 739
 1R-phenylethanol
 4Sme-7-3Kt
Aphaenogaster rudis
Attygalle AB 1998b Naturwissenschaften 85 : 38
 anabasine
 anabaseine
 2,3-bipyridyl
 isopentyl-2-phenylethylamine
Atta bisphaerica
De Oliveira JS 1990 An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 19 : 145
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 2-phenylacetic acid
 bornylene
 8OH
Atta cephalotes
Evershed RP 1983 Insect Biochem. 13 : 469
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 2Ald
Riley RG 1974b J. Insect Physiol. 20 : 651
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Atta laevigata
De Oliveira JS 1990 An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 19 : 145
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2-phenylacetic acid
 bornylene
 8OH
Atta sexdens
Robinson SW 1978 Bull. Entomol. Res. 68 : 159
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Atta sexdens rubropilosa
Evershed RP 1983 Insect Biochem. 13 : 469
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 2Ald
Cross JH 1979 J. Chem. Ecol. 5 : 187
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 methyl phenylacetate
 ethyl phenylacetate
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Atta sexdens sexdens
Billen J 1992 Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 4 : 197
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Evershed RP 1983 Insect Biochem. 13 : 469
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 2Ald
Atta texana
Tumlinson JH 1972b J. Insect Physiol. 18 : 809
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Sonnet PE 1972 J. Agric. Food Chem. 20 : 1191
 me-4me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Crematogaster castanea
Morgan ED 2004 Chemoecology 14 : 119
 R-dodecan-2-ol
Daceton armigerum
Morgan ED 1992 J. Chem. Ecol. 18 : 2161
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 delta9-23Hy
 23Hy
 delta9-25Hy
Eutetramorium mocquerysi
Tentschert J 2000 Naturwissenschaften 87 : 377
 2me3me-5-2-methylpropylpyrazine
Manica rubida
Attygalle AB 1986a Physiol. Entomol. 11 : 125
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Mayriella overbecki
Kohl E 2000 Naturwissenschaften 87 : 320
 me-2-hydroxy-6me-benzoate
Messor bouvieri
Jackson BD 1989a Experientia 45 : 487
 anabasine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Messor capensis
Brand JM 1993 J. Chem. Ecol. 19 : 1315
 anabasine
 anabaseine
Messor ebeninus
Coll M 1987 Z. Naturforsch. C 42 : 1027
 anabasine
Metapone madagascarica
Hölldobler B 2002 Chemoecology 12 : 147
 me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Metapone madagascarica
Hölldobler B 2002 Chemoecology 12 : 147
 me-pyrrole-2-carboxylate
Monomorium pharaonis Linnaeus
Edwards JP 1978 Ann. Appl. Biol. 89 : 395
 3-butyl-5me-octahydroindolizine
Ritter FJ 1977b Crop Prot. Agents : 195
 monomorine I
Ritter FJ 1977a Tetrahedron Lett. 30 : 2617
 faranal
Ritter FJ 1975b Uni. Dijon : 99
 monomorine I
 monomorine II
 monomorine III
 monomorine IV
 monomorine V
Pheidole pallidula
Ali MF 1988c Physiol. Entomol. 13 : 257
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Pogonomyrmex barbatus
Liu Y 2002 Fenxi Huaxue 47 : 369
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
 2me5me-pyrazine
Hölldobler B 2001 J. Insect Physiol. 47 : 369
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Pogonomyrmex maricopa
Hölldobler B 2001 J. Insect Physiol. 47 : 369
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Hölldobler B 2001 J. Insect Physiol. 47 : 369
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Hölldobler B 2001 J. Insect Physiol. 47 : 369
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine   
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Solenopsis invicta
Van der Meer RK 1983 Fla. Entomol. 66 : 39
 Z,E-alpha-farnesene
 E,E-alpha-farnesene
 Z,E-alpha-homofarnesene
 Z,Z-alpha-homofarnesene
 17Hy
 Z,Z,Z-allofarnesene
Williams HJ 1981b Experientia 37 : 1159
 Z,Z,Z-allofarnesene
Van der Meer RK 1981 Tetrahedron Lett. 22 : 1651
 Z,E-alpha-farnesene
 E,E-alpha-farnesene
 Z,E-alpha-homofarnesene
 Z,Z-alpha-homofarnesene
Tetramorium caespitum
Attygalle AB 1984J. Chem. Ecol. 10 : 1453
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Attygalle AB 1983b Naturwissenschaften 70 : 364
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine
Tetramorium impurum
Morgan ED 1990 J. Chem. Ecol. 16 : 349
 me-2-hydroxy-6me-benzoate
Morgan ED 1987 Naturwissenschaften 74 : 596
 me-2-hydroxy-6me-benzoate
Tetramorium meridionale Emery
Jackson BD 1990c Naturwissenschaften 77 : 294
 2me-pyrazine
 2me5me-pyrazine
 2me3me5me-pyrazine
 2me5me-3-ethylpyrazine

Formicinae

Camponotus atriceps
Haak U 1996 Chemoecology 7 : 85
 6-butyl-tetrahydro-3me5me-pyran-2Kt
 nerolic acid
Camponotus balzani
Kohl E 2003 Chemoecology 13 : 113
 8-hydroxy-3me5me7me-isochromanone
Camponotus castaneus
Kohl E 2003 Chemoecology 13 : 113
 6-butyl-tetrahydro-3me5me-pyran-2Kt
Camponotus floridanus
Haak U 1996 Chemoecology 7 : 85
 6-butyl-tetrahydro-3me5me-pyran-2Kt
 nerolic acid
Camponotus herculeanus
Bestmann HJ 1999 Chem. Eur. J. 5 : 2984
 2Sme4Rme5S-5-hexanolide
Payne TL 1975 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 68 : 385
 me-2-hydroxy-6me-benzoate
 mellein
Hölldobler B 1965 Z. vergl. Physiol. 50 : 551
 me-2-hydroxy-6me-benzoate
 mellein
 10me-12Acid
Camponotus inaequalis
Bestmann HJ 1997 Angew. Chem. 36 : 395
 3,4-dihydro-8-hydroxy-3me5me7me-isocoumarin
Camponotus ligniperda
Bestmann HJ 1999 Chem. Eur. J. 5 : 2984
 2Sme4Rme5S-5-hexanolide
Bestmann HJ 1999 Chem. Eur. J. 5 : 2984
 2Sme4Rme5S-5-hexanolide
Camponotus rufipes
Uebler E 1995 Naturwissenschaften 82 : 523
 mellein
Camponotus sericeiventris
Kohl E 2003 Chemoecology 13 : 113
 8-hydroxy-3me5me7me-isochromanone
Camponotus silvicola
Uebler E 1995 Naturwissenschaften 82 : 523
 8-hydroxy-3me5me7me-isochromanone
Camponotus socius
Kohl E 2001 Chemoecology 11 : 67
 2Sme4Rme5S-5-hexanolide
 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6me-pyran-4Kt
Bestmann HJ 1999 Chem. Eur. J. 5 : 2984
 2Sme4Rme5S-5-hexanolide
Formica rufa
Bestmann HJ 1992 Angew. Chem. 31 : 795
 R-mellein
Lasius fuliginosus
Kern F 1997 J. Chem. Ecol.23 : 779
 mellein
 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6me-pyran-4Kt
Akino T 1996 Jap. J. Appl. Entomol. Zool.40 : 233
 caproic acid
 enanthic acid
 caprylic acid
 pelargonic acid
 caprinic acid
 lauric acid
Huwyler S 1975 J. Insect Physiol. 21 : 779
 caproic acid
 enanthic acid
 caprylic acid
 pelargonic acid
 caprinic acid
 lauric acid
Lasius niger
Bestmann HJ 1992 Angew. Chem.31 : 795
 3,4-dihydro-8-hydroxy-3me5me7me-isocoumarin
Linepithema humile
Greenberg L 2000 J. Econ. Entomol. 93 : 119
Cordova YL 1998 Eur. J. Entomol.95 : 501
 sulcatone
 sulcatol
 13-2Kt
 Z9-16Ald
Van Vorhis Key SE 1982 J. Chem. Ecol. 8 : 3
 Z9-16Ald
Cavill GWK 1979 Experientia 35 : 989
 Z9-16Ald

Dolichoderinae

Dolichoderus thoracicus
Attygalle AB 1998a Naturwissenschaften 85 : 275
 Z9-18Ald
 Z9-16Ald
Tapinoma simrothi
Simon T 1991 Insectes Soc. 38 : 17
 iridodial
 iridomyrmecin

Ectatomminae

Ectatomma ruidum
Bestmann HJ 1995 Naturwissenschaften 82 : 334
 geranylgeraniol acetate
 geranylgeraniol
Gnamptogenys striatula
Blatrix R 2002 J. Chem. Ecol. 28 : 2557
 4-methylgeraniol
 bishomogeraniol
 E2,4S6-3me4me7me-octadienyl decanoate
 E2,4S6-3me4me7me-octadienyl dodecanoate

Ponerinae

Leptogenys diminuta
Kern F 1993 Naturwissenschaften 80 : 424
 3R4Sme-heptan-3-ol
Attygalle AB 1991b Naturwissenschaften 78 : 90
 isogeraniol
Attygalle AB 1988c Naturwissenschaften 75 : 315
 3R4Sme-heptan-3-ol
 isogeraniol
Leptogenys peuqueti
Janssen E 1997b Naturwissenschaften 84 : 122
 1-ethyl-4me-heptyl acetate
 1-isopropyl-4me-heptyl acetate
 1-propyl-4me-heptyl acetate
 4me-dodecan-7-ol
 3me9me-dodecan-6-ol
 1-pentyl-4me-heptyl acetate
 4me-tridecan-7-ol
 4me10me-tridecan-7-ol
 4me-tetradecan-7-ol
 3me-hexyl-4me-heptyl acetate
 3me-hexyl-octyl acetate
 heptyloctyl acetate
 4me-hexadecan-7-ol
 3me-hexyl-decyl acetate
Megaponera foetens
Janssen E 1995 J. Chem. Ecol. 21 : 1947
 dimethyluracil
 actinidine
Longhurst C 1979 J. Chem. Ecol. 5 : 703
 1me2me-disulfane
 1me3me-trisulfane
 benzyl methyl sulfane
Longhurst C 1979 J. Chem. Ecol. 5 : 703
 11Hy
 13Hy
Pachycondyla tarsata
Janssen E 1999 Chemoecology 9 : 9
 17-9Kt
Rhytidoponera metallica
Meinwald J 1983Naturwissenschaften 70 : 46
 isogeraniol
 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde

Aenictinae (dorylinae)

Aenictus sp
Oldham NJ 1994, Experientia 50 : 763
 methyl anthranilate
 methyl nicotinate