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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2006 Publication Date: 7/30/2006 Citation: Chen, J. 2006. Chemistry of the feces of the red imported fire ants, solenopsis invicta buren (hymenoptera: formicidae). Meeting Abstract. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: In an ant colony, feces are not just metabolic waste; they often affect colony functions. Knowledge on the chemistry of the feces may be helpful in understanding their effect on the ant behavior. Feces of workers, larvae, alates and queens of red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Uric acid was the major nitrogenous product; however, urea, purine derivatives, nitrogen-containing organic acids, and amino acids were also detected. Thirteen monocarboxylic acids, thirteen dicarboxylic acids and one tricarboxylic acid were identified. Phosphoric acid and glycerol were also found in all samples. |
