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The enantiomeric composition of monoterpene hydrocarbons in the defensive secretions ofNasutitermes termites (Isoptera): Inter- and intraspecific variations

Authors :
Jan Vrkoč
Tobjörn Norin
Irena Valterová
Source :
Chemoecology. 4:120-123
Publication Year :
1993
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1993.

Abstract

Frontal gland secretions of termite soldiers of the speciesNasutitermes costalis, N. ephratae, N. nigriceps, N. rippertii, andN. hubbardii were analyzed. The chiral compositions of the monoterpene hydrocarbons were investigated by means of two-dimensional gas chromatography. Two of them, 3-carene andβ-pinene were present in the form of (−)-enantiomers of high purity in the majority of the samples. The other monoterpenes,α-pinene, camphene, sabinene, limonene, andβ-phellandrene, exhibited a great variation in the enantiopurity between different species.α-Pinene and limonene varied significantly even between different colonies within the species.N. costalis was the only species with an invariable composition of the secretion, independent of the locality or origin.

Details

ISSN :
14230445 and 09377409
Volume :
4
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Chemoecology
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........af77a9dcc0f2f7dce82313307e4cfa08
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01241682