"Formic acid Formic acid, systematically named methanoic acid, is the simplest carboxylic acid. The chemical formula is HCOOH or HCOH. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in some ants. The word ""formic"" comes from the Latin word for ant, ""formica"", referring to its early isolation by the distillation of ant bodies. Esters, salts, and the anion derived from formic acid are called formates. Industrially formic acid is produced from methanol. Formic acid is a colorless liquid having a pungent, penetrating odor at room temperature, not unlike the related acetic acid. It is miscible"
"the abdomen. African carabid beetles (for example, ""Anthia"" and ""Thermophilum"" – ""Thermophilum"" is sometimes included within ""Anthia"") employ the same chemicals as ants: formic acid. Bombardier beetles have well-developed pygidial glands that empty from the sides of the intersegment membranes between the seventh and eighth abdominal segments. The gland is made of two containing chambers, one for hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide, the other holding hydrogen peroxide and catalase enzymes. These chemicals mix and result in an explosive ejection, reaching a temperature of around , with the breakdown of hydroquinone to hydrogen, oxygen, and quinone. The oxygen propels the noxious chemical"
"the more commonly seen ants in northern North America. Some species, including ""F. rufa"", which is common in Southern England, make large, visible thatch nests of dry plant stems, leaves, or conifer needles, usually based around a rotting stump. Most ""Formica"" species are polygynous (have multiple queens per colony), and some are polydomous (have multiple nests belonging to the same colony). Queens may be singly or multiply mated, and may or may not be related. ""Formica polyctena"" has polygynous colonies. Wood ants typically secrete formic acid; ""F. rufa"" can squirt the acid from its acidopore several feet if alarmed, a"
"see the red color that females can see. The larvae and pupae of ""L. rubidus"" exhibit a mutualistic relationship with red ants. The caterpillars secrete a fluid through glands in the body wall that has a high sugar concentration, which attracts the red ants. The ants will carry the caterpillar to the nest, where they will defend it from predators in exchange for being able to feed on the fluid that the caterpillar secretes. ""L. rubidus"" will stay in the ant nest until it completes pupation and emerges from the chrysalis as a butterfly. ""L. rubidus"" is not a threatened"
"as cattle, have been attacked around the eyes, nostrils, and hooves. Grasslands have dried out because of the increase in plant-sucking insect pests (hemipterans), which the ants cultivate to feed on the sugary ""honeydew"" that they excrete. When attacked, these ant, like other formicine ants, can bite but not sting, and excrete formic acid through a hairy circle or acidopore on the end of the abdomen, using it as a venom, which causes a minute pain that quickly fades. Formic acid was named after the Latin word ""formica"" (ant), because it was first distilled from ants in the 17th century."
"way to protect themselves, but mainly their brood, from their predators. Females have a gland on their gaster that secretes a liquid; females are commonly seen rubbing their gaster along the stem of the nest. This secretion, which is spread on the stem, then, somehow prevents ants from climbing on the stem to reach the nest and the brood. In experiments, when ants come in contact with this secretion, they have a violent reaction and retract away from the secretion, suggesting that it is a chemical repellant of sorts. In addition, the structure of the nest itself and the morphology"
"of millipedes or puss moth (""Cerura vinula"") caterpillars, and these, too, are known to release powerful defensive chemicals. Another suggestion, based on observation of blue jays, is that the bird makes the insects edible by discharging the harmful acid onto its feathers. Birds were found to show anting behaviour only if the ants had a full acid sac, and with subjects whose acid sacs had been experimentally removed, the behaviour was absent. It has also been suggested that anting is related to moulting. Correlation with moulting, however, may be attributable to the greater activity of ants in summer. This behaviour"
"This factor has greatly depleted red crabs, and made their annual land migrations far more perilous. Although crazy ants do not bite or sting, they spray formic acid as a defence mechanism and to subdue their prey. In areas of high ant density, the movement of a land crab disturbs the ants and, as a result, the ants instinctively spray formic acid as a form of defence. The high levels of formic acid at ground level eventually overwhelms the crabs, and they are usually blinded then eventually die from dehydration (while attempting to flush out the formic acid) and exhaustion."
"likely because the identifying hydrocarbons change when individuals are in a mixed colony. Formica sanguinea Formica sanguinea, or blood-red ant, is a species of slave-maker ant in the genus ""Formica"" characterized by the ability to secrete formic acid. It ranges from Central and Northern Europe through Russia to Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, Africa and also the United States. This species is coloured red and black with workers up to 7 mm long. A colony of ""F. sanguinea"" can live either as a free colony or as a social parasite of ""Formica"" species, most commonly ""Formica fusca"", ""Formica japonica"", ""Formica"
"extend throughout their bodies. When these are mechanically irritated, the ant commits suicide by exploding, spilling out a sticky, entangling substance. The subfamily Dolichoderinae, which also does not possess a stinger, has a different type of defense. The anal gland secretions of this group rapidly polymerize in air and serve to immobilize predators. Leaf beetles produce a spectrum of chemicals for their protection from predators. In the case of the subtribe Chrysomelina (Chrysomelinae), all live stages are protected by the occurrence of isoxazolin-5-one derived glucosides that partially contain esters of 3-nitropropanoic acid (3-NPA, beta-nitropropionic acid). The latter compound is an"
"Formica sanguinea Formica sanguinea, or blood-red ant, is a species of slave-maker ant in the genus ""Formica"" characterized by the ability to secrete formic acid. It ranges from Central and Northern Europe through Russia to Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, Africa and also the United States. This species is coloured red and black with workers up to 7 mm long. A colony of ""F. sanguinea"" can live either as a free colony or as a social parasite of ""Formica"" species, most commonly ""Formica fusca"", ""Formica japonica"", ""Formica Hayashi"" and ""Formica rufibarbis"". ""F. sanguinea"", are facultative slave-makers, meaning colonies can live"
"surface of the ground. The red wood ant is inactive in winter and the immature beetle leaves its nest. At this stage it is positively attracted to light which encourages it to move into more open areas of meadowland. For a period of about two weeks it is sensitive to the odour of myrmicine ants and moves towards them. It favours ants in the genus ""Myrmica"", but failing them, it is attracted by other genera such as ""Tetramorium"" and ""Solenopsis"". When it has found a suitable nest, the beetle produces secretions from an ""appeasement gland"" which discourage the ants from"
"they sting, which amounts to 3.1% of their supply. Older workers deliver less venom when they sting, but middle-aged workers and nest-defenders deliver much higher quantities. Like all fire ant species, venom is secreted by the venom gland and is stored in the poison sac. When in use, it is ejected through the stinger's main duct. Capacity is between 20 and 40 nl, but this depends on the worker's size. The American entomologist Justin O. Schmidt described it as being ""sharp, sudden, mildly alarming"", therefore ranking at ""1"" in the Schmidt sting pain index, a pain scale which ranks the"
"the same rubbing actions on its right wing. The entire rubbing behaviour lasted approximately 10 minutes. European starlings also performed a similar behaviour with mothballs. During anting, birds rub insects on their feathers, usually ants, which secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid. These can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, bactericide, or to make the insects edible by removing the distasteful acid. It possibly also supplements the bird's own preen oil. Although it has been suggested that anting acts as a way of reducing feather parasites such as mites or in controlling fungi or bacteria, there has been"
"use chemical secretions through metapleural glands, which are capable of producing lots of phenylacetic acid, an antimicrobial agent. A study demonstrated how the smallest worker ants were able to lower growth rates of ""Escovopsis"" spores that were placed into the ants’ fungus garden with this phenylacetic acid. Bioassays showed that ""Escovopsis"" from leafcutter ants is not as affected by the acid than that from more basic fungus-growing ants, meaning that there is a need to control the growth of the parasitic ""Escovopsis"" fungus because of its virulence as a potential pathogen. Escovopsis Escovopsis is a genus of seven formally acknowledged"
"the manner of lemon squash, ""these ants form a pleasant acid drink which is held in high favor by the natives of North Queensland, and is even appreciated by many European palates"". In his ""First Summer in the Sierra"", John Muir notes that the Digger Indians of California ate the tickling, acid gasters of the large jet-black carpenter ants. The Mexican Indians eat the replete workers, or living honey-pots, of the honey ant (""Myrmecocystus""). Some ant species are considered as pests, primarily those that occur in human habitations, where their presence is often problematic. For example, the presence of ants"
"fire ants. After exposure to fire ant venom, ""N. fulva"" retreats, covers itself with formic acid and returns to the fight. This is the first known example of an insect detoxifying another insect's venom, and the first discovery of an ionic liquid in nature which results from mixing of formic acid with venom from ""S. invicta"". How formic acid acts as an antidote against the much more toxic fire ant's venom is unknown. Fire ant venom is a mixture of toxic alkaloids and proteins that presumably enable the alkaloids to enter rival ants’ cells. Each alkaloid in the fire ant’s"
"a stinger but an acidipore that can spray formic acid. When attacking, this is often sprayed in combination with biting thus making the acid more effective against the subject of the attack. ""Polyrhachis"" that do not possess a metapleural gland seem to utilise the antibiotic properties of their formic acid and when it cannot be used, ants are more likely to succumb to parasite infection Some species are social parasites; ""Polyrachis lemalidens"" is a good example. They live in the Korean Peninsula, China and other parts of northeastern Asia. Their nuptial flight occurs during late September to late November depending"
"Uniquely, the tawny ant also uses formic acid as an antidote against the venom of the fire ant. Tawny crazy ants were found to displace other ant species in their native Argentina and later the US, including the red imported fire ant. This was first thought to be due to exploitative and interference competition. In March 2014, researchers concluded that formic acid helped tawny crazy ants survive fire ant venom in ant fights 98% of the time; when the gland ducts were blocked with nail polish in an experiment, crazy ants had only a 48% chance of surviving fights with"
"species and the staple diet of some such as the African ant ""Amblyopone pluto"", which feeds solely on geophilomorph centipedes, and the South African Cape black-headed snake ""Aparallactus capensis"". Centipede defences include their speed and venomous forcipules, as well as the secretion of defensive chemicals. Geophilomorph centipedes can secrete sticky substances that generate toxic hydrogen cyanide and benzoic acid from microscopic glands on their undersides. Similarly, lithobiomorph centipedes secrete a sticky substance from glands in the rear-most two pairs of legs. Water regulation is an important aspect of centipede ecology, since they lose water rapidly in dry conditions and are"
"Nitric acid Nitric acid (HNO), also known as aqua fortis (Latin for ""strong water"") and spirit of niter, is a highly corrosive mineral acid. The pure compound is colorless, but older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to decomposition into oxides of nitrogen and water. Most commercially available nitric acid has a concentration of 68% in water. When the solution contains more than 86% HNO, it is referred to as ""fuming nitric acid"". Depending on the amount of nitrogen dioxide present, fuming nitric acid is further characterized as white fuming nitric acid at concentrations above 95%, or red"
"little convincing support for any of the theories. Some cases of ""anting"" involved the use of millipedes or puss moth caterpillars, and these too are known to release powerful defensive chemicals. Another suggested function, based on observation of blue jays, is that the bird makes the insects edible, by discharging the harmful acid onto their feathers. The birds were found to show anting behaviour only if the ants had a full acid sac, and with subjects whose acid sacs had been experimentally removed, the behaviour was absent. Finally, it has also been suggested that anting is related to feather moulting."
"as ""Nylanderia fulva"". In 2014, it was discovered that the ant produces and covers itself with formic acid as an antidote to the fire ant's venom. It is the first known example of an insect being able to neutralize another insect's venom, an ability speculated to have evolved in South America where the two species share the same native range. Colonies have multiple queens, which also contributes to their survival. As of 2012, the ants have established colonies in all states of the Gulf Coast of the United States including at least 27 counties in Southeast Texas. The ant is"
"ant (""Camponotus pennsylvanicus""). The genus includes over 1,000 species.They also farm aphids. In the farming, the ants protects the aphids while they excrete a sugary fluid called honeydew, which the ants get by stroking the aphids with their antennae. Carpenter ant species reside both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying, or hollow wood, most commonly in forest environments. They cut ""galleries"" into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Certain parts of a house, such as around and under windows, roof eaves, decks and porches, are more likely to be infested by"
"secretions differ in the chemical constituents, according to the taxa. Gyrinids, for instance, secrete norsesquiterpenes such as gyrinidal, isogyrinidal, gyrinidione, or gyrinidone. Dytiscids discharge aromatic aldehydes, esters, and acids, especially benzoic acid. Carabids typically produce carboxylic acids, particularly formic acid, methacrylic acid, and tiglic acid, but also aliphatic ketones, saturated esters, phenols, aromatic aldehydes, and quinones. Accessory glands or modified structures are present in some taxa: the Dytiscidae and Hygrobiidae also possess paired prothoracic glands secreting steroids; and the Gyrinidae are unique in the extended shape of the external opening of the pygidial gland. The function of many compounds remain"
"so, ants protect them against potential predators – for example, wasps. Although both riodinid and lycaenid caterpillars attract ants and produce nutritious secretions to reward them, members of the two butterfly families have different structures to perform the same functions. Typically, ant-associated lycaenid larvae possess a single nectary organ located on the dorsum of the seventh abdominal segment, and a pair of tentacle organs on the eight abdominal segment. Ants imbibe the secretion produced by the nectary organ, and tentacle organs function in chemical communication between caterpillars and ants. The sounds produced by lycaenid caterpillars are similar to those produced"
"alarm pheromones in ""C. saundersi"" and related species. Jones, et al. (2004) identified the following chemicals within the secretion: Phenols Aliphatics Terpenoids Both 2,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone and 2-Methyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone are phenolic ketones which cause the pH-dependent color changes of the secretion. (6R)-(E)-2,6-Dimethyl-2-octen-1,8-dionic acid is an acyclic monoterpene previously undocumented in insects. However, the chemical is well known to be a urinary metabolite in mammals, with overproduction resulting in toxic acidosis in various species. Camponotus saundersi Camponotus saundersi is a species of ant found in Malaysia and Brunei, belonging to the genus of Carpenter ants. A worker can explode suicidally and aggressively as an"
"organisms like wasps and spiders as well as parasites. In return, the ants receive a saccharine secretion fortified with amino acids from an eversible gland on the larvae’s back. As first instar larvae prepare to pupate, the ants carry the larvae into their nests. Once the larvae become pupae, the ants continue to provide protection against predation and parasitism. The butterfly leaves the nest when it emerges in June. ""P. argus"" has undergone habitat loss and fragmentation in the United Kingdom due to the development of industrial agriculture, new forestry practices, and landscape development. Additionally, the percentage of heathland has"
"from their abdomens as a defence. Formic acid was first extracted in 1671 by the English naturalist John Ray by distilling a large number of crushed ants of this species. Nests of these ants are large, conspicuous, dome-shaped mounds of grass, twigs, or conifer needles, often built against a rotting stump, usually situated in woodland clearings where the sun's rays can reach them. Large colonies may have 100,000 to 400,000 workers and 100 queens. ""F. rufa"" is highly polygynous and often readopts postnuptial queens from its own mother colony, leading to old, multigallery nests which may contain well over a"
"aggressive and attack intruders from neighbouring nests. In queenless colonies, the addition of alien queens or workers does not increase aggression among the population. Red imported fire ants are omnivores, and foragers are considered to be scavengers rather than predators. The ants' diet consists of dead mammals, arthropods, insects, earthworms, vertebrates, and solid food matter such as seeds. However, this species prefers liquid over solid food. The liquid food the ants collect is sweet substances from plants or honeydew-producing hemipterans. Arthropod prey may include dipteran adults, larvae and pupae, and termites. The consumption of sugar amino acid is known to"
"chemicals. Oleic acid has been identified as the compound released from dead ants that triggers necrophoric behaviour in genus ""Myrmica"", however ""M. scabrinodis scabrinodis"" occasionally respond by engaging in anthropophagy. Males in this species react to the absence of characteristic chemicals (dolichodial and iridomyrmecin) present on the cuticle of their living nestmates to trigger a similar response. About 12%, 16%, and 4% of their faecal volume in spring, summer, and autumn, respectively, is composed of material from this behaviour. Myrmica scabrinodis scabrinodis Myrmica scabrinodis scabrinodis is a subspecies of ant that can be found everywhere in Europe except for Andorra,"
"which causes them to avoid the pedicel rather than cross over it and prey on the nest’s inhabitants. In ants, the necrophoric response is defined as the behavior of recognizing dead colony members and carrying them to a refuse pile away from the nest. Adult males have the hydrocarbon compounds as the workers, but they are present in different amounts. In males, the most common component is 3-methylnonacosane (21%); in eggs, 3-methylnonacosane makes up 23% of lipids; in larvae 13- and 15-methylnonacosane are the most common (15%). Nest paper and pedicel have much larger hydrocarbon units, between 27 and 31"
"resin acid levels three to four times greater than normal were detected in infected trees, prior to death. These increased levels show that a tree uses the resins as a defense. Resins are both toxic to the beetle and the fungus and also can entomb the beetle in diterpene remains from secretions. Increasing resin production has been proposed as a way to slow the spread of the beetle in the ""Red Zone"" or the wildlife urban interface. The commercial manufacture of wood pulp grade chemical cellulose using the kraft chemical pulping processes releases resin acids. The Kraft process is conducted"