Origin of Oleic Acid, Corpse Recognition Signal in the Ant, Formica japonica Motschlsky(Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

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  • AKINO Toshiharu
    Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science
  • YAMAOKA Ryohei
    Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology

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  • クロヤマアリの死体認識因子：オレイン酸の起源について
  • クロヤマアリ ノ シタイ カクニン インシ オレインサン ノ キゲン ニ ツイ

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Abstract

Oleic acid levels on the body surface of ant corpses of Formica japonica increase 48h after death. Live workers also carry the ant corpses 48h after death. In contrast, triglycerides in the hemolymph decrease drastically during the 48h 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 corpse recognition signal and is generated by enzymatic hydrolysis of triglyceride, with the enzyme activated after death.

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