Submit Manuscript

Journal of Entomology

Year: 2015 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 87-94
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail

Article Trend

Total views 165

Authors

Eko Kuswanto

Intan Ahmad

Ramadhani E. Putra

Idham S. Harahap

Keywords

Research Article

Two Novel Volatile Compounds as the Key for Intraspecific Colony Recognition in Macrotermes gilvus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Eko Kuswanto, Intan Ahmad, Ramadhani E. Putra and Idham S. Harahap
Factors that cause individuals to recognize nestmates and non-nestmates in the same termite species require ongoing research. Chemical communication between individuals is predicted to be a key factor in the recognition behavior. This study aims to determine the level of aggression intraspecies Macrotermes gilvus and identify chemical components that play a role in influencing the behavior. Agonistic test intra- and intercolony M. gilvus that separated distance far away and a GC-MS analysis to determine of volatile compounds which role communication among individuals M. gilvus have been done. The research results showed that no aggression behavior intraspecies M. gilvus both intra- and intercolony. Agonistic test on three termite colonies M. gilvus from Bandung, Bogor and Bandar Lampung within maximum distance 216 km showed no agonistic. Agonistic level in intracolony only happens antennation or examination, while in intercolony occurs antennation, examination, alarm behavior and avoidance one another. Aggressive behavior (as a marker of agonistic behavior) does not appear both inter- and intracolony. Identification of the volatile compounds that assumed to play a role as, a key of intraspecific colony recognition has been carried out using GC-MS analysis, the results are 22 volatile compounds of caste workers and soldiers (both minor- and major soldier). Two novel volatile compounds has been identified i.e., (Z)-6-octadecenoic acid and (E)-9-octadecenoic acid, respectively, as the key of individuals for recognizing both non- and nestmembers of M. gilvus. Those compounds are species-specific on M. gilvus.
PDF Fulltext XML References Citation

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *