Task-related chemical analysis of labial gland volatile secretion in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica)

Tamar Katzav-Gozansky, Victoria Soroker, Armin Ionescu, Gene E. Robinson, Abraham Hefetz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Chemical analyses revealed that the labial gland complex of worker honeybees possesses a series of hydrocarbons dominated by odd-numbered carbon chain alkanes along with minor amounts of alkenes and branched alkanes. Foragers contained significantly more secretion than nurse bees. Experiments with bees from colonies induced to have a division of labor independent of age revealed that the differences in the amount of secretion were task, but not age dependent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)919-926
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Chemical Ecology
Volume27
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Exocrine glands
  • Forager bees
  • Honeybees
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Labial glands
  • Secretion
  • Task specificity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Biochemistry

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