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(Referência obtida automaticamente do Web of Science, por meio da informação sobre o financiamento pela FAPESP e o número do processo correspondente, incluída na publicação pelos autores.)

Chemical cuticular signature of leafcutter ant Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) worker subcastes

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Autor(es):
Valadares, Lohan ; do Nascimento, Fabio Santos
Número total de Autores: 2
Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
Fonte: Revista Brasileira de Entomologia; v. 60, n. 4, p. 308-311, OCT-DEC 2016.
Citações Web of Science: 1
Resumo

ABSTRACT In leafcutter ants the division of labour is associated to worker size variation clustered in four subcastes. In this work we used Atta sexdens Forel (1908) as a model to test the hypothesis that each subcaste expresses its own chemical signature comprised of cuticular lipids. To assess it, we extracted epicuticular compounds by using nonpolar solvent hexane and analysed the samples in a combined Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). We found 24 hydrocarbons with carbon chains ranging from 19 to 39 atoms most of them classified as linear and branched alkanes. No compound occurred in the cuticle of specific worker subcaste, however, the relative proportion pattern varied greatly among them. Our results suggest that although subcastes have similar chemical signatures, significant differences in their relative proportions may play an important role between nestmate and group identification. (AU)

Processo FAPESP: 10/10027-5 - Mediação comportamental, sinalização química e aspectos fisiológicos reguladores da organização social em himenópteros
Beneficiário:Fábio Santos do Nascimento
Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores