Alkylpyrazine Alarm Pheromones in Ponerine Ants

The mandibular gland secretions of the ponerine ants Odontomachus hastatus, O. clarus, and O. brunneus contain alkylpyrazines. These compounds, 2,5-dimethyl-3-isopentylpyrazine in O. hastatus and O. clarus, and 2,6-dimethyl-3-pentyl-, -butyl-, -propyl-, and -ethyl-pyrazines in O. brunneus, have previously not been found as animal natural products. These compounds function as powerful releasers of alarm behavior for Odontomachus workers and are...