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Ontogenetic patterns of volatiles identified in Dufour's gland extracts from queens and workers of the primitively eusocial halictine bee,Lasioglossum malachmum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

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Summary

Ontogenetic patterns of volatile compounds identified in Dufour's gland extracts from queens and workers of the primitively eusocial sweat beeLasioglossum malachurum (K.) were compared. Only young unmated queens showed high proportions of isopentenyl esters, while macrocyclic lactones were dominant in old breeding queens, spring queens, and workers. In young queens the relative and absolute amounts of volatiles changed one day after mating. A discriminant analysis revealed significant differences in odor patterns of unmated and mated young queens. The fat body was the largest in young females, while eggs could be recorded only in breeding queens. Possible functions of different odor components in the investigated female groups are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. M. Ayasse

    Present address: Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Zoology, Althanstr. 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental Biology, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-7400, Tübingen, Germany

    M. Ayasse & W. Engels

  2. Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    A. Hefetz

  3. Ecological Station of Uppsala University, S-38600, Färjestaden, Sweden

    J. Tengö

  4. Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, D-2000, Hamburg 13, Germany

    G. Lübke & W. Francke

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  1. M. Ayasse
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  2. W. Engels
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  4. J. Tengö
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  5. G. Lübke
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Ayasse, M., Engels, W., Hefetz, A. et al. Ontogenetic patterns of volatiles identified in Dufour's gland extracts from queens and workers of the primitively eusocial halictine bee,Lasioglossum malachmum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Ins. Soc 40, 41–58 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338831

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