Abstract
Chemical analyses revealed that the labial gland complex of worker honeybees possesses a series of hydrocarbons dominated by odd-numbered carbon chain alkanes along with minor amounts of alkenes and branched alkanes. Foragers contained significantly more secretion than nurse bees. Experiments with bees from colonies induced to have a division of labor independent of age revealed that the differences in the amount of secretion were task, but not age dependent.
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Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V., Ionescu, A. et al. Task-Related Chemical Analysis of Labial Gland Volatile Secretion in Worker Honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica). J Chem Ecol 27, 919–926 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010330902388
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010330902388