AUTHOR=Uebi Tatsuya , Sakita Tomoya , Ikeda Ryo , Sakanishi Keita , Tsutsumi Tomoaki , Zhang Zijian , Ma Huiying , Matsubara Ryosuke , Matsuyama Shigeru , Nakajima Satoko , Huang Rong-Nan , Habe Shunya , Hefetz Abraham , Ozaki Mamiko 

TITLE=Chemical identification of an active component and putative neural mechanism for repellent effect of a native ant’s odor on invasive species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.844084

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.844084

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>The invasive Argentine ants (<italic>Linepithema humile</italic>) and the red imported fire ants (<italic>Solenopsis invicta</italic>) constitute a worldwide threat, causing severe disruption to ecological systems and harming human welfare. In view of the limited success of current pest control measures, we propose here to employ repellents as means to mitigate the effect of these species. We demonstrate that cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) used as nestmate-recognition pheromone in the Japanese carpenter ant (<italic>Camponotus japonicus</italic>), and particularly its (<italic>Z</italic>)-9-tricosene component, induced vigorous olfactory response and intense aversion in these invasive species. (<italic>Z</italic>)-9-Tricosene, when given to their antennae, caused indiscriminate glomerular activation of antennal lobe (AL) regions, creating neural disarray and leading to aversive behavior. Considering the putative massive central neural effect, we suggest that the appropriate use of certain CHCs of native ants can facilitate aversive withdrawal of invasive ants.</p>