ISSN:
1573-1561
Keywords:
Host recognition
;
volatiles
;
social parasitism
;
cuckoo bumble bees
;
Bombus terrestris
;
Bombus terricola
;
Psithyrus vestalis
;
Psithyrus ashtoni
;
Hymenoptera
;
Apidae
;
Dufour's gland
;
tergal gland
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Species ofPsithyrus (Hymenoptera; Apidae) are obligate bumble bee social parasites. In this study, females ofP. vestalis andP. ashtoni were presented with pentane extracts prepared from different body parts of queens of their respective host species,Bombus terrestris andB. terricola. Parasites of both species were capable of distinguishing host bees from other bumble bee species using chemical cues contained within extracts. Among extracts of several body parts presented to parasites, the abdomen produced the greatest behavioral response, with Dufour's gland and terminal tergal segments eliciting the greatest response among abdominal regions. Extracts of these two body parts obtained fromB. terrestris queens shared a number of compounds, identified by GC-MS. Among the identified compounds are a number that have been reported to be of importance in bee sociochemistry.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00985008
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