ARS | Publication request: Abundance of -1,6-piperideine alkaloids in imported fire ants

Submitted to: Asia Pacific Congress of Entomology
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 18, 2009
Publication Date: October 22, 2009
Citation: Chen, J., Jin, X., and Shang, H.W. 2009. Abundance of ¿1,6-piperideine alkaloids in imported fire ants. Proceedings of the 6th Asia-Pacific Congress of Entomology. Beijing, P. R. China, October 18-22, 2009. pp. 82.

Technical Abstract: Workers of imported fire ants, including red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, black imported fire ants, S. richteri Forel, and their hybrid (S. invicta × S. richteri), are vicious stingers. Since the venomous sting is a significant medical problem to humans, the chemistry of imported fire ant venom has been a subject of rigorous research. The major chemical components in the venom of imported fire ants are 2,6-dialkylpiperidines. Recently, 2,6-dialkylpiperideines were found in the venom of the imported fire ants, however; they have never been quantified in either species. In this study, the relative abundance of six 2,6-dialkyl-6-piperideines was investigated in both species and their hybrid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). They include 2-methyl-6-tridecenyl-6-piperideine, 2-methyl-6-tridecyl-6-piperideine, 2-methyl-6-pentadecenyl-6-piperideine, 2-methyl-6-pentadecyl-6-piperideine, 2-methyl-6-heptadecenyl-6-piperideine, and 2-methyl-6-heptadecyl-6-piperideine. Hybrid workers contained significantly more 2,6-dialkyl-6-piperideines than their parent species. The 2,6-dialkyl-6-piperideine profile of S. invicta was different to those of S. richteri and hybrid. The profile of S. richteri and hybrid was characterized by the absence or minor abundance of 2-methyl-6-heptadecenyl-6-piperideine and 2-methyl-6-heptadecyl-6-piperideine. The ratio of 2-methyl-6-pentadecenyl-6-piperideine to 2-methyl-6-pentadecenyl-6-piperideine was significantly different among two species and their hybrid.