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Author |
Roux, O.; Martin, J.M.; Ghomsi, N.T.; Dejean, A. |
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Title |
A Non-lethal Water-based Removal-reapplication Technique for Behavioral Analysis of Cuticular Compounds of Ants |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2009 |
Publication |
Journal of Chemical Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Chem. Ecol. |
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Volume |
35 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
904-912 |
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Keywords |
Ants; Behavioral assay; Behavioral ecology; Camponotus blandus; Chemical composition; Chemical ecology; Cuticular hydrocarbons; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Live dummies; Solenopsis saevissima; Methods |
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Abstract |
Interspecific relationships among insects are often mediated by chemical cues, including non-volatile cuticular compounds. Most of these compounds are hydrocarbons that necessitate the use of solvents for their extraction, identification, and manipulation during behavioral assays. The toxicity of these solvents often precludes the removal and reapplication of hydrocarbons from and to live insects. As a consequence, dummies often are used in behavioral assays, but their passivity can bias the behavior of the responding insects. To overcome these limitations, we propose a method where cuticular compounds are extracted from live ants by placing them into glass vials half-filled with tepid water (ca. 34A degrees C) and vigorously shaking the vials to form an emulsion whose supernatant can be analyzed and/or reapplied to other ants. We demonstrate that cuticular compounds can be extracted from workers of the red fire ant, Solenopsis saevissima, and reapplied to the cuticle of workers from a sympatric species, Camponotus blandus (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while keeping the ants alive. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis and behavioral assays were used to confirm the successful transfer of the behaviorally active compounds. |
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Address |
[Roux, Olivier; Martin, Jean-Michel; Dejean, Alain] Ecol Forets Guyane, CNRS, UMR 8172, F-97379 Kourou, France, Email: oroux@cict.fr |
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0098-0331 |
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ISI:000269954400006 |
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EcoFoG @ eric.marcon @ |
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104 |
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