Do ant brood pheromones exist?

L. Morel, R. K. Vander Meer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

A brood pheromone is a chemical or mixture of chemicals released by immature stages that elicits a behavioral response in conspecific adults. The current literature devoted to brood pheromones in several ant species does not prove the existence of such a pheromone or even of brood-specific chemicals. The possibility of a food response or a nestmate recognition response, 2 of the most confounding factors, has not been eliminated. Alternative hypotheses involving brood behavior, morphology, cuticular chemicals, and associative learning are proposed. -Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)705-710
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of the Entomological Society of America
Volume81
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Insect Science

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