Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40106052›Full record

ArticleNeotropical entomology2025

Seasonal and Habitat-related Variations in the Cuticular Chemical Profile of Atta sexdens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Foraging Workers.

Jean Carlos Dos Santos Lima, Omar Bailez, Jonathan Rodriguez Guerrero, Anália Arêdes, Maria Cristina Canela, Ana Maria Viana-Bailez

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Article in Neotropical entomology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jean Carlos Dos Santos LimaEntomology and Phytopathology Laboratory, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
Omar BailezEntomology and Phytopathology Laboratory, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. obailez@uenf.br.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5602-4624
Jonathan Rodriguez GuerreroEntomology and Phytopathology Laboratory, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
Anália ArêdesEntomology and Phytopathology Laboratory, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
Maria Cristina CanelaChemical Sciences Laboratory (LCQUI), State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
Ana Maria Viana-BailezEntomology and Phytopathology Laboratory, State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) protect insects from dehydration and pathogen attack and participate in interindividual communication. In social insects, the CHC profile serves as a chemical identification system that communicates information on nest membership, life stage, caste, and fertility. It is known that factors such as diet composition, temperature, and humidity may affect the cuticular profile of leaf-cutting ants under laboratory conditions, hindering intercolony recognition. This study aimed to determine whether the CHC profile of leaf-cutting ants under natural conditions is influenced by the dominant type of vegetation. Atta sexdens (Linnaeus,1758) foraging workers were collected at different times of the year from nests located in a eucalyptus plantation and an Atlantic Forest site. Cuticular extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The CHC profiles of ants collected from both sites were compared qualitatively and quantitatively by discriminant analysis. In total, 17 compounds were detected in A. sexdens cuticles (n-C16 to n-C31), including 15 compounds in ants from the eucalyptus plantation and 13 compounds in ants from the Atlantic Forest. Of the 17 compounds, 8 were methylated CHCs, 3 were linear alkanes, 3 were unsaturated hydrocarbons, and 3 could not be identified. Ants collected from different sites contained unique cuticular compounds but did not differ in the relative concentrations of common compounds. Qualitative differences in CHC profile between ants inhabiting different environments can be explained by differences in diet composition. Furthermore, quantitative variations in CHCs throughout the year can be partially attributed to physiological responses to seasonal climatic conditions.

Indexed as

AntsEcosystemHydrocarbonsSeasonsAnimalsEucalyptusGas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryHydrocarbonsCuticular hydrocarbonsDiet effectDiscriminant analysisEnvironmental effect

Identifiers

PMID40106052

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