Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pollination by Sexual Mimicry in Mormolyca ringens: A Floral Chemistry that Remarkably Matches the Pheromones of Virgin Queens of Scaptotrigona sp.

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The chemical composition of some volatile (2-heptanol) and nonvolatile constituents (a homologous 9-alkene/alkane series) of Mormolyca ringens flowers and Scaptotrigona sp. queen waxes (homologous 9-alkene/alkane series) and cephalic extracts (homologous series of 2-alkanols, including 2-heptanol) involved with the pseudocopulation or sexual mimicry in Orchidaceae pollination is compared. The similarity in chemical composition of flowers and insects is assigned to the chemically induced copulatory activity in Scaptotrigona males.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • M. Ayasse F. P. Schiestl H. F. Paulus C. Lofsted B. Hansson F. Ibarra W. Francke (2000) ArticleTitleEvolution of reproductive strategies in the sexually deceptive orchid Ophrys sphegodes: how does flower-specific variation of odor signals influence reproductive success? Evolution 54 1995–2006 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3jt1KisQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11209776

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M. Ayasse F. P. Schiestl H. F. Paulus F. Ibarra W. Francke (2003) ArticleTitlePollinator attraction in a sexually deceptive orchid by means of unconventional chemicals Proc. R. Soc. Lond., B Biol. Sci. 270 517–522 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXktVWhs7k%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • L. B. Bjostad (1998) Electrophysiological methods K. F. Haynes J. G. Millar (Eds) Methods in Chemical Ecology: Chemical Methods, v.1 Chapman and Hall London 339–369

    Google Scholar 

  • A. K. Borg-Karlson (1990) ArticleTitleChemical and ethological studies of pollination in the genus Ophrys (Orchidaceae) Phytochemistry 29 1359–1387 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0031-9422(90)80086-V Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXkslCksrs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. K. Borg-Karlson J. Tengö (1986) ArticleTitleOdor mimetism? Key substances in Ophrys lutea-Andrea pollination relationship (Orchidaceae). J. Chem. Ecol. 12 1927–1941 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01041856 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XlvVOqt7c%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H. R. Buser H. Arn P. Guerin S. Rauscher (1983) ArticleTitleDetermination of double-bond position in monounsaturated acetates by mass-spectrometry of dimethyl-disulfide adducts Anal. Chem. 55 818–822 Occurrence Handle10.1021/ac00257a003 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3sXhs1Shs70%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camargo, C. A. 1972a. Produção “in vitro” de intercastas em Scaptotrigona postica Latreille. (Hymenoptera, Apidae), pp. 37–45, in: Homenagem à W. E. Kerr. Rio Claro, SP. Brazil.

  • Camargo, C. A. 1972b. Aspectos da reprodução dos apideos sociais. Dissertação de Mestrado. FMRP-USP, 63 pp.

  • R. L. Dressler (1993) Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchid Family Dioscorides Press Portland

    Google Scholar 

  • W. Engels E. Engels W. Francke (1997) ArticleTitleOntogeny of cephalic volatile patterns in queens and mating biology of the neotropical stingless bee, Scaptotrigona postica Invertebr. Reprod. Dev. 31 251–256 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXitVSlu7k%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Flach R. C. Dondon R. B. Singer S. Koehler M. E. C. Amaral A. J. Marsaioli (2004) ArticleTitleThe chemistry of pollination in selected Brazilian Maxillariinae orchids: floral rewards and fragrance J. Chem. Ecol. 30 1045–1056 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:JOEC.0000028466.50392.ed Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXktFSrtb0%3D Occurrence Handle15274447

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • W. E. Kerr (1948) ArticleTitleEstudos sobre o gênero Melipona An. Esc. Super. Agric. Luiz de Queiroz 5 181–276

    Google Scholar 

  • W. E. Kerr C. R. Lopes (1962) ArticleTitleBiologia da reprodução da Trigona (Plebeia) droryana Rev. Bras. Biol. 22 335–341

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Kullenberg (1961) ArticleTitleStudies in Ophrys pollination Zool. Bidr. Upps. 34 1–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Menezes, C., Kerr, W. E., Bonetti, A. M., Siquieroli, A. C. S., and Oliveira, C. C. 2004. Methods improvements of stingless bee “in vitro” rearing. Anais do 8th IBRA International Conference on Tropical Bees and VI Encontro sobre abelhas. Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

  • M. R. Neiland C. C. Wilcock (1998) ArticleTitleFruit set, nectar reward and rarity in the Orchidaceae Am. J. Bot. 85 1657–1671

    Google Scholar 

  • F. P. Schiestl M. Ayasse (2002) ArticleTitleDo changes in floral odor cause speciation in sexually deceptive orchids? Plant Syst. Evol. 234 111–119 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00606-002-0187-z Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XovVWgtrc%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F. P. Schiestl M. Ayasse H. F. Paulus C. Lofstedt B. Hansson F. Ibarra W. Francke (2000) ArticleTitleSexual pheromone mimicry in the early spider orchid (Ophrys sphegodes): patterns of hydrocarbons and the key mechanism for pollination by sexual deception J. Comp. Physiol., A 186 567–574 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003590000112 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlvFWgsbs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silveira, F. A., Melo, G. A. R., and Almeida, E. A. B. 2002. Abelhas brasileiras: sistemática e identificação. Fundação Araucária. Belo Horizonte-MG.

  • R. B. Singer (2002) ArticleTitleThe pollination mechanism in Trigonidium obtusum Lindl. (Orchidaceae: Maxillariinae): sexual mimicry and trap-flowers Ann. Bot. 89 157–163 Occurrence Handle10.1093/aob/mcf021 Occurrence Handle12099346

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R. B. Singer S. Koehler (2004) ArticleTitlePollinarium morphology and floral rewards in Brazilian Maxillariinae Ann. Bot. 93 39–51 Occurrence Handle14644913

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R. B. Singer A. Flach S. Koehler A. J. Marsaioli M. C. E. Amaral (2004) ArticleTitleSexual mimicry in Mormolyca ringens (Lindl.) Schltr. (Orchidaceae: Maxillariinae) Ann. Bot. 93 755–762 Occurrence Handle15051623

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • N. A. Cingel ParticleVan der (1995) An Atlas of Orchid Pollination: European Orchids Balkema Publisher Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • N. A. Cingel ParticleVan der (2001) An Atlas of Orchid Pollination. America, Africa, Asia and Australia Balkema Publisher Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Pijl ParticleVan der C. H. Dodson (1966) Orchid Flowers—Their Pollination and Evolution University of Miami Press Coral Gables

    Google Scholar 

  • W. M. Whitten N. H. Williams M. W. Chase (2000) ArticleTitleSubtribal and generic relationships of Maxillarieae (Orchidaceae) with emphasis in Stanhopeinae Am. J. Bot. 87 1842–1856 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktFCrug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11118422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors (A.F. and R.B.S.) acknowledge grants and fellowships from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Tecnologia (CNPq). We are thankful to Prof. Carol Collins and Prof. Stephen Hyslop for revising the text and reviewers for helpful suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Institute, State University of Campinas, PO Box 6154, 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Adriana Flach & Anita J. Marsaioli

  2. Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), PO Box 6109, 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Rodrigo B. Singer & Maria Do Carmo E. Amaral

  3. Genetics and Biochemistry Institute, Federal University of Uberlândia, PO Box 593, 38400-902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Cristiano Menezes & Warwick Estevam Kerr

  4. Chemistry Department, Federal University of São Carlos, 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Luciane G. Batista-Pereira & Arlene G. Corrêa

Authors
  1. Adriana Flach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anita J. Marsaioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rodrigo B. Singer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Do Carmo E. Amaral
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cristiano Menezes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Warwick Estevam Kerr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Luciane G. Batista-Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Arlene G. Corrêa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anita J. Marsaioli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Flach, A., Marsaioli, A.J., Singer, R.B. et al. Pollination by Sexual Mimicry in Mormolyca ringens: A Floral Chemistry that Remarkably Matches the Pheromones of Virgin Queens of Scaptotrigona sp.. J Chem Ecol 32, 59–70 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-006-9351-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-006-9351-1

Key Words

Search

Navigation