3,4‐Dihydroisocoumarins, a New Class of Ant Trail Pheromones

Abstract

The common garden ant, Lasius niger, marks its paths with isocoumarin (R)-1. The structures of other isocoumarins from related ant species were elucidated by synthesis and mass spectrometric studies. The substances were tested for biological activity by means of trail-following tests and electroantennograms.