Antimicrobial Activity of Compounds Isolated from the Nest Material of (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Ants as social insects live in groups, which increases the risk of contagious diseases. In response to the threat of pathogens, ants have evolved a variety of defense mechanisms, including incorporating antimicrobial chemicals into nest material for nest hygiene. is an arboreal ant, building its nest using plant tissues. It is still unclear how is protected against pathogens in its nest. Two main chemicals, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol] (MP) and lup-20(29)-en-3-one (LP), isolated from nest materials of were used to investigate ants' anti-pathogenic activity against the entomopathogenic fungus and the entomopathogenic bacteria . The results showed that MP and LP can inhibit the growth of through direct contact and fumigation. However, neither MP nor LP had any negative effect on growth. Subsequent analysis showed that MP was found in both the abdomen part and the head part of workers, and LP was not detected in workers. Since LP is a common plant secondary metabolite, it is implied that LP may originate from the plant tissue of nest materials. Our results showed that capitalizes on its own antimicrobial chemicals and probably the chemical defenses which have evolved in plants to protect itself against pathogens.