Chen, J; Henderson, G; Laine, RA

Journal of Chemical Ecology [J. Chem. Ecol.], vol. 25, no. 4, 817, Apr 1999

Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on trimethylsilyl derivatives of soldier frontal gland secretions of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ranges of 17.23-33.78 mg/g (acid/wet weight of secretion) of lignoceric acid and 5.39-7.67 mg/g of hexacosanoic acid were found in the soldier frontal gland secretion of three different colonies. This is the first report that organic acids occur in the soldier secretions of this species.