We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemical Profiles of Body Surfaces and Nests from Six Bornean Stingless Bee Species

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

Abstract

Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are the most diverse group of Apid bees and represent common pollinators in tropical ecosystems. Like honeybees they live in large eusocial colonies and rely on complex chemical recognition and communication systems. In contrast to honeybees, their ecology and especially their chemical ecology have received only little attention, particularly in the Old World. We previously have analyzed the chemical profiles of six paleotropical stingless bee species from Borneo and revealed the presence of species-specific cuticular terpenes— an environmentally derived compound class so far unique among social insects. Here, we compared the bees’ surface profiles to the chemistry of their nest material. Terpenes, alkanes, and alkenes were the dominant compound groups on both body surfaces and nest material. However, bee profiles and nests strongly differed in their chemical composition. Body surfaces thus did not merely mirror nests, rendering a passive compound transfer from nests to bees unlikely. The difference between nests and bees was particularly pronounced when all resin-derived compounds (terpenes) were excluded and only genetically determined compounds were considered. When terpenes were included, bee profiles and nest material still differed, because whole groups of terpenes (e.g., sesquiterpenes) were found in nest material of some species, but missing in their chemical profile, indicating that bees are able to influence the terpene composition both in their nests and on their surfaces.

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

  • Abdalla, F. C., Jones, G. R., Morgan, E. D., and Da Cruz-Landim, C. 2003. Comparative study of the cuticular hydrocarbon composition of Melipona bicolor Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) workers and queens. Genet. Molec. Res. 2:191–199.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayasse, M., Engels, W., Lübke, G., Taghizadeh, T., and Francke, W. 1999. Mating expenditures reduced via female sex pheromone modulation in the primitively eusocial halictine bee, Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) malachurum (Hymenoptera : Halictidae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 45:95–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G. J., Chu, A. J., and Remaley, S. 1980. Biosynthesis of wax in the honeybee, Apis mellifera L. Insect Biochem. 10:313–321.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G. J., Roubik, D. W., and Buchmann, S. L. 1985. Wax chemistry of 2 stingless bees of the Trigonisca group (Apididae, Meliponinae). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B-Biochem. Mol. Biol. 82:137–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blum, M. S., Kerr, W. E., and Fales, H. M. 1970. The chemical basis of insect sociality. pp. 61–94, in M. Beroza (ed.). Chemicals Controlling Insect Behavior. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breed, M. D., Garry, M. F., Pearce, A. N., Hibbard, B. E., Bjostad, L. B., and Page, R. E. 1995. The role of wax comb in honeybee nestmate recognition. Anim. Behav. 50:489–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breed, M. D., Leger, E. A., Pearce, A. N., and Wang, Y. J. 1998. Comb wax effects on the ontogeny of honey bee nestmate recognition. Anim. Behav. 55:13–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Breed, M. D., Perry, S., and Bjostad, L. B. 2004. Testing the blank slate hypothesis: why honeybee colonies accept young bees. Insect. Soc. 51:12–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckner, J. L. 1993. Cuticular polar lipids in insects. pp. 227–270, in D. W. Stanley-Samuelson, D. R. Nelson (ed.). Insect Lipids: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dworschak, K., and Blüthgen, N. 2010. Networks and dominance hierarchies: does interspecific aggression explain flower partitioning among stingless bees? Ecological Entomol. 35: 216–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eltz, T. 2004. Spatio-temporal variation of apine bee attraction to honeybaits in Bornean forests. J. Trop. Ecol. 20:317–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endler, A., Liebig, J., Schmitt, T., Parker, J. E., Jones, G. R., Schreier, P., and Holldobler, B. 2004. Surface hydrocarbons of queen eggs regulate worker reproduction in a social insect. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 101:2945–2950.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E., Gamboa, G. J., Grudzien, T. A., and Bura, E. A. 1994. Cuticular hydrocarbons of the paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus— a search for recognition pheromones. J. Chem. Ecol. 20:1677–1687.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, J. D. 1973. A Handbook to Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. S. F. Department, editor. Sandakan, Malaysia.

  • Francis, B. R., Blanton, W. E., Littlefield, J. L., and Nunamaker, R. A. 1989. Hydrocarbons of the cuticle and hemolymph of the adult honey bee (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. 82:486–494.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, B. R., Blanton, W. E., and Nunamaker, R. A. 1985. Extractable surface hydrocarbons of workers and drones of the genus Apis. J. Apic. Res. 24:13–26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fröhlich, B., Riederer, M., and Tautz, J. 2000a. Comb-wax discrimination by honeybees tested with the proboscis extension reflex. J. Exp. Biol. 203:1581–1587.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fröhlich, B., Tautz, J., and Riederer, M. 2000b. Chemometric classification of comb and cuticular waxes of the honeybee Apis mellifera carnica. J. Chem. Ecol. 26:123–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hepburn, R., Duangphakdee, O., Phiancharoen, M., and Radloff, S. 2010. Comb wax salvage by the red dwarf honeybee, Apis florea F. J. Insect Behav. 23:159–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hölldobler, B. 1995. The chemistry of social regulation— multicomponent signals in ant societies. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92:19–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W., Mcdaniel, C. A., Nelson, D. R., Blomquist, G. J., Gelbaum, L. T., and Zalkow, L. H. 1982. Cuticular hydrocarbons of Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks)1 and their role as potential species- and caste-recognition cues. J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1227–1239.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jungnickel, H., Da Costa, A. J. S., Tentschert, J., Patricio, E., Imperatriz-fonseca, V. L., Drijfhout, F., and Morgan, E. D. 2004. Chemical basis for inter-colonial aggression in the stingless bee Scaptotrigona bipunctata (Hymenoptera : Apidae). J. Insect Physiol. 50:761–766.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaib, M., Jmhasly, P., Wilfert, L., Durka, W., Franke, S., Francke, W., Leuthold, R. H., and Brandl, R. 2004. Cuticular hydrocarbons and aggression in the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus. J. Chem. Ecol. 30:365–385.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, W. E., Jungnickel, H., and Morgan, E. D. 2004. Workers of the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris are more similar to males than to queens in their cuticular compounds. Apidologie 35:611–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, S. D., and Blüthgen, N. 2009. A sticky affair: resin collection by Bornean stingless bees. Biotropica 41:730–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, S. D., Blüthgen, N., and Schmitt, T. 2009. Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees. Insect. Soc. 56:157–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, S. D., Jung, L. M., Schmitt, T., and Blüthgen, N. 2010a. Terpenoids tame aggressor: role of chemicals in stingless bee communal nesting. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 64: 1415–1423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, S. D., Zeilhofer, S., Blüthgen, N., and Schmitt, T. 2010b. Stingless bees use terpenes as olfactory cues to find resin sources. Chem. Senses: doi:10.1093/chemse/bjq058 .

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lockey, K. H. 1988. Lipids of the insect cuticle: origin, composition and function. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B-Biochem. Mol. Biol. 89B:595–645.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mant, J., Brändli, C., Vereecken, N. J., Schulz, C. M., Francke, W., and Schiestl, F. P. 2005. Cuticular hydrocarbons as sex pheromone of the bee Colletes cunicularius and the key to its mimicry by the sexually deceptive orchid, Ophrys exaltata. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:1765–1787.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, C. W., and Greer, A. G. 1992. Forest land-use in Sabah, Malaysia: an introduction to Danum Valley. Philosoph. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 335:331–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milborrow, B. V., Kennedy, J. M., and Dollin, A. 1987. Composition of Wax Made by the Australian Stingless Bee Trigona-Australis. Austr. J. Biol. Sci. 40:15–25.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moure, J. S. 1961. A preliminary supra-specific classification of the old world meliponine bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) Studia Entomologica 4:181–242.

  • Nunes, T. M., Nascimento, F. S., Turatti, I. C., Lopes, N. P., and Zucchi, R. 2008. Nestmate recognition in a stingless bee: does the similarity of chemical cues determine guard acceptance? Anim. Behav. 75:1165–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunes, T. M., Turatti, I. C. C., Mateus, S., Nascimento, F. S., Lopes, N. P.,and Zucchi, R. 2009. Cuticular hydrocarbons in the stingless bee Schwarziana quadripunctata (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): differences between colonies, castes and age. Genet. Molec. Res. 8:589–595.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paulmier, I., Bagnères, A. G., Afonso, C. M. M., Dusticier, G., Riviere, G., and Clément, J. L. 1999. Alkenes as a sexual pheromone in the alfalfa leaf-cutter bee Megachile rotundata. J. Chem. Ecol. 25:471–490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roubik, D. W. 1989. Ecology and Natural History of Tropical Bees. Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Roubik, D.W. 2006. Stingless bee nesting biology. Apidologie 37: 124–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sramkova, A., Schulz, C., Twele, R., Francke, W., and Ayasse, M. 2008. Fertility signals in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera : Apidae). Naturwissenschaften 95:515–522.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • St. Leger, R. J. 1995. Integument as a barrier to microbial infections. pp. 284–306, in: K. Binnington, I. Retnakaran (ed.). Physiology of the Insect Epidermis. CSIRO Publications, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) for giving us permission to perform research in Malaysia, and the Royal Society for their help with planning and conducting field work in Borneo. Dr. Chey Vun Khen and Dr. Arthur Chung (Forestry Research Centre, Sandakan) kindly supported this project. The comments of two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the manuscript. SDL was supported by a grant of the German Excellence Initiative to the Graduate School of Life Science, University of Würzburg, and NB and TS by the Sonderforschungsbereich SFB 554 (Mechanisms and Evolution of Arthropod Behaviour) of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Sara Diana Leonhardt & Nico Blüthgen

  2. Department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Thomas Schmitt

Authors
  1. Sara Diana Leonhardt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nico Blüthgen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas Schmitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara Diana Leonhardt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leonhardt, S.D., Blüthgen, N. & Schmitt, T. Chemical Profiles of Body Surfaces and Nests from Six Bornean Stingless Bee Species. J Chem Ecol 37, 98–104 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9900-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9900-5

Key Words

Search

Navigation