CUTICULAR HYDROCARBONS IN BRAZILIAN ANTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Chemical signal-mediated communication can be found in all forms of life. In ants, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are essential for mediating interactions among colony members. These compounds are present in the insect epicuticle, protecting against desiccation and playing essential roles in communication. In Brazil, the high diversity of ants suggests a broad variation in CHCs profiles, but studies on this topic remain scarce. To better understand CHC diversity in Brazilian ants, this chapter systematically reviews research conducted over the past 30 years. The review was performed using major academic databases, restricting the search to studies with ants collected in Brazil. Thirty-six articles were identified, with the highest representation in the Southeast and Central-West regions of the country. The most studied species belonged to the subfamily Myrmicinae, followed by Ponerinae, Ectatomminae, Formicinae, and Paraponerinae, belonging to 27 species. The CHCs classes found in Brazilian ants were in the following order of importance: linear alkanes > monomethyl alkanes > dimethyl alkanes > linear alkenes > branched alkenes > trimethyl alkanes > alkadienes. The total number of compounds was 354, the CHCs profiles presented both qualitative and quantitative variations, influenced by complex interactions involving environmental and genetic factors. Given the diversity of biomes in Brazil, further research at a national scale is needed to improve understanding of the ecological and evolutionary aspects of cuticular hydrocarbons.