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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324151
Title: Tyramides in male alates of black imported fire ants, Solenopsis richetri

Author
item Chen, Jian
item Grodowitz, Michael

Submitted to: Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2016
Publication Date: 1/25/2017
Citation: Chen, J., Grodowitz, M.J. 2017. Tyramides in male alates of black imported fire ants, Solenopsis richetri. Insect Science. 24(1):169-172. doi:10.1111/1744-7917.12304.

Interpretive Summary: The red imported fire ant and the black imported fire ant were two important invasive ants. Although the black imported fire ant was introduced and established in the United States more than one decade earlier than the red imported fire ant, the latter has gradually displaced the black imported fire ant throughout most of its distribution. However, the black imported fire ant still persist in areas along the northern boundary of the distribution range of the red imported fire ants, including northern Alabama, north Mississippi and southern Tennessee. In 1958, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enacted a Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine (7CFR301) for both species and their hybrid. Tyramides were recently reported to exist in males of many ant species in the subfamily Myrmicinae, including the red imported fire ants. Transfer of tyramides from male to newly mated queen was demonstrated in the red imported fire ants. However, the males of the black imported fire ants have not been examined. In this study, five tyramides were identified and quantified in males of the black imported fire ants. These tyramides may have diverse physiological and behavioral functions in an ant society and they may have a potential to be used in fire ant management.

Technical Abstract: Tyramides were recently reported to exist in males of many ant species in the subfamily Myrmicinae. N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)ethanamide and N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)hexanamide were found in S. invicta . Transfer of tyramides from male to newly mated queen was demonstrated in the red imported fire ants. However, the males of S. richteri have not been examined. In this study, five tyramides were identified and quantified in S. richteri males. In addition to two tyramides that were reported in S. invicta, N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)butanamide, N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)pentanamide and N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)octanamide were also found in S. richteri males. These tyramides may have diverse physiological and behavioral functions in ant society. More research is warranted to identify the details of their biological functions and potential of their application in fire ant management.