Monomorium minimum

Workers of Monomorium minimum rapidly kill termite workers (ReticuTTtermes species) with their poison gland secretions (35). The venom of this species is primarily fortified with 2,4-dialkyl-pyrrolidines (12) which must function as contact insecticides since the venom is applied topically rather than being subdermally administered. The same results have been reported for European species of Monomorium attacking termites (36). 

The first compound identified as a natural product of thrips was V-decalactone (I), a product of Bagnalliella yuccae (8). The anal exudate, which is discharged when the thrips are disturbed, does not contain any other detectable volatiles. Both laboratory and field studies demonstrated that the secretion effectively deterred ant workers either as a topical irritant or by repellency per se. Workers of Monomorium minimum quickly withdrew after contact with the anal fluid and avoided sites at which the exudate had been released (8). The repellency of the anal exudate was clearly identified with T-decalactone, two thrips equivalent of this compound evoking 50% repellency for minimum workers. Similar results were obtained with pharaonis and hvimilis, two other species of predatory ants. The results of field studies corroborated the laboratory findings (8). 

Queenright (queen-containing) colonies of 10 species of ants, belonging to two major subfamilies, were utilized for repellency studies. Members of the subfamily Myrmicinae included Solenopsis invicta, Crematogaster ashmeadi. Pheidole dentata, Monomorium minimum. M. viridum and pharaonis. The subfamily Dolichoderinae was represented by Iridomyrmex pruinosus, I. humilis. Tapinoma sessile, and T melanocephalum. Whereas S. invicta and the Monomorium species have been demonstrated to synthesize alkaloid-rich venoms (36, ), these nitrogen... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

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