Chemical Analyses of Volatile Compounds from Cuticular and Non-cuticular Abdominal Glands of African Weaver Ants (Oecophylla longinoda)

Abstract

Chemicals from the abdominal glands of African weaver ants (Oecophylla longinoda) were extracted with petroleum ether and fifteen pheromonal compounds were characterised using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Technique. The compounds analysed include decane (8.81%), undecane (5.97%), dodecane (4.52%), tridecane (1.75%), hexadecane (2.36%), methyl decanoate (3.31%), (3Z)-tetradec-3-ene (2.10 %), 2,6-dimethylheptadecane (13.29%), 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (17.01%), octanoic acid methyl ester (2.89%), 2-methyl nonadecane (11.92%), 1-fluorodecane (5.29%), (3E,11E)-tetradeca-3,11-dien-1-ol (12.02 %), cyclohexane-1,2-diol (3.71%) and 2-ethyl-1-decanol (5.07%). Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) analysis of the extract showed peaks at 1542.14, 1646.30, 2092.83, 2935.76 and 3427.62 cm-1 indicating the presence of alkene, alkyne, alkane and alcoholic compounds. These compounds consisted 50.72 % hydrocarbon, 23.21 % ester, 20.80 % alcohol and 5.29 % alkyl halide. The highest component was 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester followed by 2,6-dimethylheptadecane. This investigation has shown that the cuticular abdominal chemicals derived from African weaver ants are mostly hydrocarbons, esters and alcohols which might be used by the insect as pheromone compounds.