US EPA

5229422 

Journal Article 

Origin of oleic acid, corpse recognition signal in the ant, Formica japonica Motschlsky (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 

Akino, T; Yamaoka, R 

1996 

1 

Nihon Oyo Dobutsu Konchu Gakkaishi
ISSN: 0021-4914 

40 

4 

265-271 

WOS:A1996VV59800001 

Oleic acid levels on the body surface of ant corpses of Formica japonica increase 48 h after death. Live workers also carry the ant corpses 48 h after death. In contrast, triglycerides in the hemolymph decrease drastically during the 48 h after death. The constituent fatty acids of the triglycerides are linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, and palmitic acid, which are also found in the free fatty acids in the hemolymph of the ant corpse. The mass spectrum suggests that the major compounds of the triglycerides are triolein and dioleylpalmitin. Large amounts of the oleic acid are stored in the triglycerides. When a worker ant was irradiated with microwaves soon after death, the free fatty acids on the cuticle did not increase much and the triglycerides in the hemolymph did not decrease. However, the amount of triglycerides on the cuticle was more than that on a corpse that was not irradiated. These results suggest that the oleic acid serves as a corose recognition signal and is generated by enzymatic hydrolysis of triglyceride, with the enzyme activated after death. 

corpse recognition; Formica japonica; oleic acid