AUTHOR(S)
Jyothika Biju1, Sreelakshmi S1, Unnatti Sharma1, Susanna Percival2 and
Majesh Tomson1*
ABSTRACT
Ant mandibles and associated mandibular glands are multifunctional mouthparts that play crucial
roles in their eusocial life by assisting various functions like food capture, digestion, pheromone
secretions, communication and defensive actions. Our study aims to analyze the physio-chemical
properties of mandible and mandibular glands of workers of the Weaver ant Oecophylla smargdina.
GC-MS analysis of mandibular gland contents revealed the presence of chemical components that
had various ethological properties in relation to the eusocial life of O.smaragdina. SEM imaging
provided insights on the topographical features of mandible and mandibular glands of O.
smaragdina. EDS was used to characterize the presence of metals including manganese and zinc
that contribute to the hardness of the mandibular exoskeleton.
Key words: Mandible, Mandibular gland, Weaver Ant, Mandibular secretions, Social insects.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57182/jbiopestic.17.1.54-64
PAGES: 54-64 | 0 VIEWS | 2 DOWNLOADS
DOWNLOAD
FULL ARTICLE
How to cite this article:
Citation: Jyothika Biju, Sreelakshmi S, Unnatti Sharma, Susanna Percival and Majesh Tomson. 2024.
Functional and chemical characterization of mandibles and mandibular glands of Oecophylla smaragdina
(Fab.) worker ants. Journal of Biopesticides, 17(1):54-64.