CHANGE IN THE CHEMICAL SIGNATURE OF THE ANT LEPTOTHORAX-LICHTENSTEINI BONDROIT WITH TIME

The cuticular hydrocarbons of foraging workers of the ant Leptothorax lichtensteini have been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Characterization of these compounds at regular intervals, by gas chromatography, has shown a change with time in the relative proportions of some of the hydrocarbons: n-hexacosane, 4-methylhexacosane, 4-methyloctacosane, 3-methylnonacosane. Some of which constitute a part of the colony signature. These changes occur in a synchronous manner, and in the same way for all the individuals of a colony tested at the same time. The changes also appear in queenless colonies; nevertheless, the presence of a queen seems to accelerate the change over the course of 1 yr. Certain hypotheses are formulated as to the mode of regulation of the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons responsible for these changes with time and as to the role played by the queen in this regulation. The implications of such a dynamic system for the process of nestmate recognition are discussed.