ANALYSES OF CHEMICAL EXTRACTS FROM THE ABDOMINAL GLANDS OF BLACK CARPENTER ANTS (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) AND A COMPARISON WITH PHEROMONES OF INSECTS

Chemical substances were extracted with petroleum ether from the abdominal glands of black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) and nineteen compounds were characterised using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique in combination with Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (22.28%) and hexadecanoic acid (19.12%) constituted the bulk of the compounds. Other compounds identified were decane (1.45%), undecane (2.50%), dodecane (3.67%), 2,9-dimethyldecane (252%), 2,6,11-trimethyldodecane (1.44%), (8E)-8-heptadecene (1.66%), 2,6-dimethylheptadecane (0.90%), 9-heptadecanone (3.04%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (2.24%), 11-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (7.48 %), octadecanoic acid methyl ester (1.90%), octadecanoic acid (6.47%), hexadecanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (4.20%), E-2-octadecadecen-1-ol (3.74 %), 2-methyl-Z,Z-3,13-octadecadienol (7.69%), tetradecyl-2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanoate (2.25%) and 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethyl octasiloxane (5.47%). FT-IR analysis of the extract showed peaks at 1166.97, 1453.41, 1638.58, 2861.49, 2927.08 and 3425.69 cm-1 indicating the presence of alcohol, ether, ester, fluorinated ether, alkane and alkene compounds. These compounds constituted 47.87% fatty acid, 14.14% hydrocarbons, 11.62% ester, 11.43% alcohol, 5.47% siloxane, 4.20% alcoholic ester, 3.04% ketone and 2.25% fluorinated ester. These compounds were compared with other compounds which have been reported as pheromones in other insects, and there were similarities.