Mellein, a trail pheromone component of the ant Lasius fuliginosus

3,4-Dihydro-8-hydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin (mellein) and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one are among the volatile constituents identified from the hindgut of the formicine ant Lasius (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus Mellein induces trail-following behavior in worker ants of this species and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 1997-03, Vol.23 (3), p.779-792
Main Authors: KERN, F, KLEIN, R. W, JANSSEN, E, BESTMANN, H.-J, ATTYGALLE, A. B, SCHÄFER, D, MASCHWITZ, U
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Aphididae
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Formicidae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lasius
Lasius fuliginosus
Protozoa. Invertebrata
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Summary:3,4-Dihydro-8-hydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin (mellein) and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one are among the volatile constituents identified from the hindgut of the formicine ant Lasius (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus Mellein induces trail-following behavior in worker ants of this species and evokes electrophysiological responses from their antennae. The trail-following activity released by (R)-(-)-mellein is significantly higher than that elicited by its (S)-(+) antipode, or the racemic mixture. The above-mentioned pyranone is found also in the honeydew of aphids, the customary diet of this ant species. The pyranone also evokes some trail-following behavior, but its activity is far less pronounced than that of mellein. Apparently, extra pheromone components are present in the hindgut, since the activity of these two constituents, either individually or as a mixture, does not completely account for the total activity released by a hindgut extract containing similar amounts of these two compounds.
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1023/b:joec.0000006410.35938.49