Identification of the alkaloidal venoms of some Monomorium ants of Saudi Arabia

The major volatile compounds in the poison glands of two Monomorium ant species from Saudi Arabia have been identified. Monomorium niloticum and Monomorium najrane both contain mixtures of alkyl- and alkenyl-pyrrolidines and -pyrrolines in their venom glands but no Dufour gland volatile compounds were detected. Monomorium mayri showed neither Dufour gland compounds nor venom components detectable by gas chromatography.