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Science 24 January 1975:
Vol. 187. no. 4173, pp. 254 - 255
DOI: 10.1126/science.1111099
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Articles

Science, Vol 187, Issue 4173, 254-255
Copyright © 1975 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Cyclopentyl ketones: identification and function in Azteca ants

JW Wheeler, SL Evans, MS Blum, and RL Torgerson

The anal gland secretions of dolichoderine ants in the genus Azteca are fortified with cyclopentyl ketones. Since these compounds, 2-methylcyclopentanone, cis-1-acetyl-2-methylcyclopentane, and 2-acetyl-3-methylcyclopentene, release sustained alarm behavior in ant workers, they constitute a new chemical class of insect pheromones. The ketones probably also function as defensive compounds and thus are part of the ants' alarm-defense system.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)