Why did all three ant species sense the trail pheromone?
That all three ant species sensed the trail pheromone of allopatric T. caespitumcould be due its molecular structure (2,5-dimethylpyrazine) resembling that of the M. rubratrail pheromone (3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine).
What are pheromones and how do they work?
Pheromones are chemicals released by an organism into its environment enabling it to communicate with other members of its own species. Alarm Pheromone: When an ant is disturbed, it releases a pheromone that can be detected by other ants several centimeters away.
Where do ants get their pheromones?
Compounds from the trail pheromones of ants found in the pygidial gland, Pavan gland, postpygidial gland and tibial gland. ( Iridomyrmex ) humilis , although the compound was reported to be inferior in test to a glandular extract ( Van Vorhis Key & Baker, 1982 ).
Do honeybees have alarm pheromones?
This ensures that once the emergency is over, the ants return quietly to their former occupations. Honeybees also have an alarm pheromone (which is a good thing not to elicit around a colony of "Africanized" bees). Trail Pheromone: Certain ants, as they return to the nest with food, lay down a trail pheromone.