MONOTERPENE AND SESQUITERPENE VARIATION IN PINUS-CARIBAEA NEEDLES ANDITS RELATIONSHIP TO ATTA-LAEVIGATA HERBIVORY

The relationship between terpene content in Pinus caribaea needles and Atta laevigata herbivory was examined. Analysis of newly defoliated ( foraged) pines revealed that the concentrations of myrcene and caryoph yllene were lower than in undefoliated (non-foraged) trees. Four month s later, the same defoliated pines were found to contain larger concen trations of alpha-cubebene, alpha-copaene, gamma-muurolene, beta-cadin ene, and smaller amounts of myrcene than the previously sampled undefo liated trees. Intraspecific terpene variation may play an important ro le in pine selectivity by leafcutter ants and it is also possible that defoliation might induce changes in the terpene composition of pine n eedles.