Summary
Two different theories exist concerning the way in which the honeybee “queen substance” affects the ovaries of worker honeybees. One theory involves a humoral mechanism, the other an indirect effect through the neuro-endocrine system after chemoperception. 9-Oxo-decenoic acid, one of the components of the “queen substance”, was administered to stingless bee larvae, alone or in combination with juvenile hormone. The effect of this treatment on caste determination was studied. Since no effect was found on the worker/queen ratio nor on morphometric characteristics, these experiments do not favour a humoral effect of 9-oxo-decenoic acid on stingless bee caste determination. This makes a sensory mechanism in the honeybee itself more probable.
Resume
Il y a deux théories différentes sur les mécanismes d'action de la substance royale de l'Abeille domestique (Apis mellifera) sur le développement ovarien des ouvrières. L'une de ces théories propose un mécanisme humoral direct, l'autre une modulation du système neuro-endocrinien par la chémoréception.
Nous avons donné aux larves de Mélipones de l'acide 9-oxo-décène oïque, seul ou en association avec l'hormone juvénile, puis nous avons étudié l'effet éventuel de ces traitements sur la détermination des castes. Nous n'avons trouvé de modifications ni dans le pourcentage des reines par rapport aux ouvrières, ni dans la biométrie des caractères morphologiques. Nos résultats ne plaident donc pas en faveur d'un effet humoral de l'acide 9-oxo-décène oïque sur le déterminisme des castes chez les Mélipones. Ceci rend plus probable l'hypothèse d'un mécanisme neuro-endocrinien modulé par les organes des sens.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Butler G.C. 1954. — The method and importance of the recognition by a colony of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) of the presence of its queen.Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. London, 105, 11–29.
Camargo C.A. de,Almeida M.G. de,Parra M.G.N., Kerr W.E., 1976. —Genetics of sex determination in bees. IX — Rates of queens and workers produced by larvae under controlled conditions.J. Kansas Entomol. Soc., 49, 120–125.
Camargo C.A. de, 1972. — Determinação de castas emScaptotrigona postica Latr. (Hymenoptera, Apidae).Rev. Brasil Biol., 32, 133–138.
Kerr W.E., Stort A.C., Montenegro M.J., 1966. — Importância de alguns fatôres ambientais na determinação das castas do gêneroMelipona.Acad. Brasil Ciências, 38, 151–168.
Kerr W.E., 1974. — Geslechts- und Kastendetermination bei stachellosen Bienen. In:G.H. Schmidt, Ed. Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten. Wiss. Verlagsges., Stuttgart, pp. 336–349.
Lüscher M., 1974. — Kasten und Kastendifferenzierung bei niederen Termiten. In:G.H. Schmidt, Ed. Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten. Wiss. Verlagsges., Stuttgart, pp. 694–739.
Springhetti A., Pinamonti S., 1977. — Some effects of queen bee extracts (Apis mellifera L.) (Hymenoptera) onKalotermes flavicollis Fabr., Isoptera.Ins. Soc., 24, 61–70.
Velthuis H.H.W., 1977. — The evolution of honeybee queen pheromones.Proc. 8th Int. Congr. IUSSI, Wageningen, pp. 220–222.
Velthuis H.H.W., Velthuis-Kluppell F.M., 1975. — Caste differentiation in a stingless bee,Melipona quadrifasciata Lep., influenced by juvenile hormone application.Proc. Kon. Akad. Wet. Ser., C,78, 81–94.
Verheijen-Voogd C., 1959. — How worker bees perceive the presence of their queen.Z. vergl. Physiol., 41, 527–582.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Engel, M.S. Is caste determination inMelipona quadrifasciata, a stingless bee, influenced by 9-oxo-decenoic acid?. Ins. Soc 26, 273–278 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223547
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223547