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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396536
Research Project: Management of Fire Ants and Other Invasive Ants

Location: Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research

Title: Snake scent gland secretions repel and induce contact toxicosis in ants

Author
item WELDON, PAUL - Smithsonian Institute
item Vander Meer, Robert

Submitted to: Naturwissenschaften
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2025
Publication Date: 5/20/2025
Citation: Weldon, P.J., Vander Meer, R.K. 2025. Snake scent gland secretions repel and induce contact toxicosis in ants. Naturwissenschaften. 112(41). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-025-01990-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-025-01990-4

Interpretive Summary: Snakes and ants that live on the ground are expected to have evolved mechanisms to protect themselves from predatory and aggressive behavior. Snakes possess a pair of scent glands situated in the tail base from which they expel a typically foul-smelling secretion when disturbed by predators. The main components of this secretion are fatty acids that have been hypothesized to deter ants. We examined the deterrent properties of the secretions from the Middle American burrowing python and several other representative snake species against the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) in fumigation, repellency, and contact-toxicity bioassays. None of the snake secretions affected ants in fumigation tests. However, the secretion from all tested snakes repelled worker ants through space, and on contact the ants exhibited symptoms of toxicity from which the ants recovered within a 4h hour period. Our results and those previously reported on the Texas blindsnake point to the snake sent glands as a widespread and ancient deterrent of ants.

Technical Abstract: All snakes possess a pair of scent glands situated in the tail base from which they expel typically foul-smelling secretions when disturbed by predators. Carboxylic acids, the chief lipoidal components of scent gland secretions (SGS), have been hypothesized to deter ants. We examined the deterrent properties of the SGS of Middle American burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor) against the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) in fumigation, repellency, and contact-toxicity bioassays. We also examined the responses of S. invicta to the SGS of representative boine, pythonine, colubrid, elapid, and crotaline snakes. None of the SGS affected ants in fumigation tests. However, the SGS of all snakes repelled worker ants through space and on contact the ants exhibited symptoms of toxicity. Ants exhibiting contact toxicity recovered within a 4 h test period. Our results and those previously reported on the Texas blindsnake point to SGS as a widespread and ancient deterrent of ants.