Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 2, March-April 2000
Taxonomy and Evolutionary biology of the Honeybees
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 293 - 299 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000123 | |
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000123
Apidologie 31 (2000) 293-299
Quantitative analysis of the mandibular gland components of the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea Fabricius)
Christopher I. Keelinga - Keith N. Slessora - Nikolaus Koenigerb - Gudrun Koenigerb - R.W.K. Punchihewac
aDepartment of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive,
Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada
bInstitut für Bienenkunde, Polytechnische Gesellschaft, FB Biologie der J.-W. Goethe
Universität Frankfurt am Main, Karl-von-Frisch Weg 2, D-61440 Oberursel, Germany
cHoneybee Research Facility, Horticulture Research Station, Kanawila, Horana, Sri Lanka
Abstract:
Workers and mated queens of the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea) from Sri Lanka were quantitatively
analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the following nine major mandibular gland components:
methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (HOB), 8-hydroxyoctanoic acid (8-HOAA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanol (HVA),
(E)-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid (ODA), (E)-9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (9-HDA), 10-hydroxydecanoic acid
(10-HDAA), (E)-10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (10-HDA), decanedioic acid (C10:0 DA) and (E)-dec-2-enedioic
acid (C10:1 DA). Queens and workers were significantly different in most of the mandibular gland
components analyzed. The major component in mated queens was 10-HDA and in workers was 8-HOAA. Queens and
workers contained no detectable HOB or HVA. The mandibular gland compositions of queenless and queenright
workers were similar.
Keywords:
Apis florea / honey bee / mandibular gland / pheromone
Correspondence and reprints: Christopher I. Keelinga
E-mail: ckeeling@sfu.ca
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