Interspecific responses to alarm pheromones within Solenopsis spp. Catherine A. Preston and Robert K. Vander Meer, USDA-ARS CMAVE, Fire Ant Project, 1600/1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608
The responses of congeneric ants to colony odor and alarm pheromones were evaluated among five Solenopsis species; S. invicta, S. richteri, S. invicta x richteri hybrid, S. geminata, and S. xyloni. Using a syringe, ambient air surrounding unshaken or shaken ants (to examine colony odor and excitant pheromones, respectively) contained in 20-mL glass scintillation vials, was collected and slowly released over quiescent ant groups located in bioassay containers. Responses were characterized by the observer on a scale of 1, no reaction, to 4, excited reaction. S. xyloni appeared to show the most variation in response, exhibiting significantly lower response to the alarm pheromones from S. invicta and S. richteri. Moreover, S. richteri and S. invicta x richteri hybrid had a significantly lower reaction to the alarm pheromone from S. xyloni. Overall, there was little specificity in response, with workers from each species unresponsive to colony odors but excited by alarm pheromones from other species.
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