Two volatiles from the venom gland of the Samsum ant, Pachycondyla sennaarensis

Allergy and anaphylactic reactions after the stings of the Samsum ant Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Mayr, 1862) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have been reported from several countries along the Persian Gulf coast, but no analysis has been yet carried out on the ant's venom gland secretions. This stud is focused on the identification of volatiles from the venom gland of Pachycondyla sennaarensis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which showed the presence of The main volatile components of the venom gland were phenol-2,4-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl) and trimethyl pyrazine. This is the first record of the occurrence of phenol-2,4-bis(1,1 dimethylethyl) in insects. The venom gland secretions of Pachycondyla species are known contain a variety of volatiles, making the members of this genus distinctive among the ponerine ants. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.