Isolation of the Scent-trail Pheromone of an Australian Termite

Abstract

THE trail-laying capabilities of termites have been known for many years and, quite recently, this activity has been shown^1,2 to be based on pheromones produced by the sternal gland. Both primitive and advanced termites possess such a gland, which consists of a rather diffuse structure beneath the fifth abdominal sternite³. In two species, namely Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) (Hodotermitidae)^1,2 and Nasutitermes corniger (Mots.) (Termitidae)², extracts of the appropriate region, or indeed of the whole insects, could be used to lay artificial trails that were readily followed by the parent termites. However, no clear indication of the chemical nature of the pheromones involved has yet been published.