Trail pheromone modulates subjective reward evaluation in Argentine ants.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
Natacha RossiRoxana Josens

Abstract

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is native to South America but has become one of the most invasive species in the world. These ants heavily rely on trail pheromones for foraging, and previous studies have focused on such signals to develop a strategy for chemical control. Here, we studied the effects of pre-exposure to the trail pheromone on sugar acceptance and olfactory learning in Argentine ants. We used the synthetic trail pheromone component (Z)-9-hexadecenal, which triggers the same attraction and trail-following behavior as the natural trail pheromone. We found that pre-exposure to (Z)-9-hexadecenal increases the acceptance of sucrose solutions of different concentrations, thus changing the ants' subjective evaluation of a food reward. However, although ants learned to associate an odor with a sucrose reward, pheromone pre-exposure affected neither the learning nor the mid-term memory of the odor-reward association. Taking into account the importance of the Argentine ant as a pest and invasive organism, our results highlight the importance of pheromonal cues in resource evaluation, a fact that could be useful in control strategies implemented for this species.

References

May 17, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·N D TsutsuiT J Case
Jun 22, 2000·Animal Behaviour·A C MailleuxC Detrain
Feb 7, 2001·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·A V SuarezT J Case
Jul 3, 2002·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Thomas S Collett, Matthew Collett
Nov 14, 2002·Behavioural Brain Research·Ricarda ScheinerJoachim Erber
Oct 10, 2006·Current Biology : CB·Gérard CoureaudBenoist Schaal
Jul 21, 2007·Science·Vanina VergozAlison R Mercer
Jul 26, 2008·Current Neuropharmacology·R ScheinerW Blenau
Nov 27, 2008·Journal of Chemical Ecology·D M SucklingA M El-Sayed
Jun 2, 2009·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Roxana JosensMartin Giurfa
Oct 6, 2009·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Yael Provecho, Roxana Josens
Jun 2, 2010·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Shunbing ZhaoFarzan Nadim
Sep 15, 2010·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Elodie UrlacherJean-Marc Devaud
Aug 13, 2011·Biology Letters·Ellen van WilgenburgNeil D Tsutsui
Sep 7, 2011·Journal of Insect Physiology·Agustina FalibeneRoxana Josens
Oct 4, 2011·Journal of Chemical Ecology·David Maxwell SucklingJoshua E Corn
Dec 3, 2011·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Mario L MuscedereJames F A Traniello
Oct 30, 2012·Nature·Christopher J BurkeScott Waddell
Jul 19, 2013·Learning & Memory·Margot PerezPatrizia d'Ettorre
Nov 12, 2014·Annual Review of Entomology·Tomer J CzaczkesFrancis L W Ratnieks
Feb 7, 2017·Scientific Reports·A S PollardA A Pitsillides
Feb 9, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Ricarda ScheinerMarkus Thamm
Aug 31, 2017·Scientific Reports·David BaracchiMartin Giurfa
Sep 22, 2017·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Ayse YilmazJohannes Spaethe
Jan 31, 2018·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Natacha RossiMartin Giurfa
Dec 12, 2018·Scientific Reports·Samantha J CarewQi Yuan
Jul 18, 2019·Royal Society Open Science·Baptiste PiqueretPatrizia d'Ettorre
Oct 20, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Felix B OberhauserTomer J Czaczkes

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 20, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Felix B OberhauserTomer J Czaczkes
Oct 5, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·David BaracchiPatrizia d'Ettorre

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.