Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-txr5j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-15T10:26:56.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chemical deterrency of Citrus reticulata (Blanco) to the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

V. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science and Biochemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I.
G. V. Pollard
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science and Biochemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I.
C. E. Seaforth
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, W.I.
Get access

Abstract

The mandarin orange or portugal, Citrus reticulata (Blanco), is unattractive as a forage material for the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) while pineapple orange, Citrus sinensis (L.), is quite attractive. Lipid and non-lipid components were separated from portugal whole leaf extracts. Bioassays revealed the lipid fraction to be less attractive to the ants. This fraction was further separated using preparative layer chromatography into polar and non-polar lipid constituents. Two non-polar lipid fractions, Rf 0.5–0.7 and Rf 0.7–1.0, were shown to be the most deterrent constituents of portugal leaves to A. octospinosus.

Résumé

Le mandarinier, Citrus reticulata (Blanco), n'offre pas de matériel fourrager attrayant pour la fourmi-parasol, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), tandis que l'oranger (variété ananas), Citrus sinensis est très attrayant. Des composants lipidiques et non lipidiques ont été séparés d'extraits de feuilles entières de mandarinier. Des épreuves biologiques ont révélées que la fraction lipidique était moins attrayante pour les fourmis. En outre, utilisant la Chromatographie en couche fine, cette fraction a été séparée en éléments polaires et non polaires. On a démontré que deux fractions de lipidiques non polaires, Rf 0,5–0,7 et Rf 0,7–1,0, étaient les constituants des feuiles de mandarinier les plus préventifs contre A. octospinosus.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ben-Aziz, A. (1967) Nobelitin is main fungistat in tangerines to Mai Secco. Science 155, 10261027.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cameron, J. W., Carman, G. E. and Soost, R. K. (1968) Differential resistance of Citrus species hybrids to infestation by the California red scale, Aonidella aurantii (Mask.). J. Am. Soc. Hon. Sci. 94, 694696.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. (1968) The foraging behaviour of Atta cephalotes: 1. Foraging pattern and plant species attacked in tropical rain forest. J. Anim. Ecol. 37, 387403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherrett, J. M. and Peregrine, D. J. (1976) A review of the status of leaf-cutting ants and their control. Ann. appl. Biol. 84, 124128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dadd, R. H. (1960) Observations on the payability and utilisation of food by locusts with particular reference to the interpretation of performance in growth trials using synthetic diets. Ent. exp. appl. 3, 283304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dethier, V. G., Barton-Browne, L. and Smith, C. B. (1960) The designation of chemicals in terms of the responses they elicit from insects. J. Econ. Ent. 54, 134136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duncan, D. B. (1955) Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11, 142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folch, J., Lees, M. and Sloane-Stanley, G. H. (1957) A simple method for isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J. Biol. Chem. 226, 497509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gebreyesus, T. and Chapya, A. (1983) Antifeedants from Clausenia anisata (Willd.) Hook F. Ex Benth (Rutaceae). In Natural Products for Innovative Pest Management (Current Themes in Tropical Science, Vol. 2), (Edited by Whitehead, D. L. and Bowers, W. S.) pp. 237242. Pergamon Press, U.K.Google Scholar
Hubbell, S. P. and Wiemer, D. F. (1983) Host plant selection by an attine ant. In Social Insects in the Tropics. (Edited by Jaisson, P.) Vol. 2, pp. 133154. University of Paris Press, Paris, France.Google Scholar
Jones, V. G. (1983) Investigation of the acceptability of Citrus reticulata as a forage substrate for the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus. M. Phil. Thesis, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine; Library; Unpubl. 117 pp.Google Scholar
Littledyke, M. and Cherrett, J. M. (1975) Variability in the selection of substrate by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae: Attini). Bull. ent. Res. 65, 33–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Littledyke, M. and Cherrett, J. M. (1978) Defence mechanisms in young and old leaves against cutting by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull, ent. Res. 68, 263271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mudd, A., Peregrine, D. J. and Cherrett, J. M. (1978) The chemical basis for the use of citrus pulp as a fungus garden substrate by the leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (L.) and Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. ent. Res. 68, 673685.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Munakata, K. (1970) Insect antifeedants in plants. In Control of Insect Behaviour by Natural Products. (Edited by Woods, D. L., Silverstein, R. M. and Nakajima, M.) pp. 179187. Academic Press, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pollard, G. V., Riley, R. and Wattie, E. (1983) Preliminary investigations on the selection of citrus species by the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) (Formicidae: Attini). Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) 60, 348352.Google Scholar
Rees, C. J. C. (1969) Chemoreceptor specificity associates with choice of feeding site by the beetle, Crysolina brunsvicensis, on its food plant Hypericum hirsutum. Ent. exp. appl. 12, 565583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rockwood, L. L. (1976) Plant selection and foraging patterns in two species of leaf-cutting ants, Atta. Ecology 57, 4861.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, G. E. (1978) Plant Breeding for Pest and Disease Resistance. Butterworths, London.Google Scholar
Soo Hoo, C. F. and Fraenkel, G. (1966) The selection of food plants in a polyphagous insect, Prodenia eridania (Cramer). J. Insect Physiol. 12, 693709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stradling, D. J. (1978) The influence of size on foraging in the ant, Atta cephalotes and the effect of some plant defence mechanisms. J. Anim. Ecol. 47, 173188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waller, D. A. (1982) Leaf-cutting ants and live oak. The role of leaf toughness in seasonal and intraspecific host choice. Ent. exp. appl. 32, 146150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar