CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS OF STERNAL GLAND SECRETION OF PAPER WASP POLISTES-DOMINULUS (CHRIST) AND ITS SOCIAL PARASITE POLISTES SULCIFER (ZIMMERMANN) (HYMENOPTEPA, VESPIDAE)

The secretion of the tegumental glands of the fifth and sixth gastral sternites of P. dominulus and of its social parasite P. sulcifer was a nalyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven long-chain carb oxylic acids have been identified; hexadecanoic, octadecadienoic and o ctadecenoic acids are the major components of the gland secretion of P . dominulus and octadecenoic acid the main compounds of P. sulcifer st ernal gland secretion. The same carboxylic acids have been found on th e nest pedicel.