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Mandibular Gland Secretion of Melipona beecheii: Chemistry and Behavior

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Abstract

The mandibular gland secretion of Melipona beecheii contains a rich mixture of terpenoid and oxygenated compounds and unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons. However, it differs markedly from the 11 other Brazilian species examined in previous studies, both by the absence of 2-heptanol and the presence of rose oxides. The most abundant compound was geranyl hexanoate, whereas the most volatile compounds were cis- and trans-rose oxide and geraniol. The complete blend and five individual components found in the gland secretion were tested by electroantennography (EAG) and behavioral assays. The complete mandibular gland extract and geraniol elicited the strongest EAG responses, whereas these and farnesyl acetate induced the strongest attack response from workers. The role of the rose oxides remains to be elucidated, as they do not appear to play a major role as an alarm pheromone of this species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Yolanda Brindis and Alejandro del Mazo for assistance in the chemical and bioassays work, Javier Valle-Mora for statistical advice (all at ECOSUR), Eric Schoeters (University of Leuven, Belgium) for dissection of the first group of mandibular glands, and Prof. Sommeijer (Utrecht University, The Netherlands) for providing samples of bees. For EDM, this work was partly supported through the European Research Training Network “Insects” (FW5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Entomología Tropical, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.5, Tapachula, Chiapas, CP 30700, AP 36, México

    Leopoldo Cruz-López, Edi A. Malo, Miguel Guzmán & Julio C. Rojas

  2. Chemical Ecology Group, Lennard-Jones Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Physics, Keele University, Staffs, ST5 5BG, England

    E. David Morgan

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.0, Tapachula, Chiapas, CP 30700, México

    Manuel Rincon

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  1. Leopoldo Cruz-López
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  2. Edi A. Malo
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  3. E. David Morgan
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  4. Manuel Rincon
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  5. Miguel Guzmán
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  6. Julio C. Rojas
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Correspondence to Leopoldo Cruz-López.

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Cruz-López, L., Malo, E.A., Morgan, E.D. et al. Mandibular Gland Secretion of Melipona beecheii: Chemistry and Behavior. J Chem Ecol 31, 1621–1632 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-5802-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-5802-3

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