Source, optimal dose concentration and longevity of trail pheromone in two Monomorium ants (Formicidae: Hymenoptera)

Workers of Monomorium lepineyi and Monomorium bicolor secrete trail pheromones from their venom glands. The Dufour’s gland and the hind gut secretions have no effect on the trail pheromone activity in M. lepineyi, while in M. bicolor the secretions have an inhibitory effect. The optimal dose of the trail- following in each of the mentioned two species was found to be 1.0 and 0.1 poison gland equivalent/30 cm trail, respectively. Although the concentration of the optimal dose in the two species is different, the longevity of each is nearly the same as the pheromone lasts 120 min.