Quantitative analysis of the mandibular gland components of the dwarf honey bee (Apis florea Fabricius)

Christopher I. Keeling; Keith N. Slessor; Nikolaus Koeniger; Gudrun Koeniger; R.W.K. Punchihewa

doi:doi:10.1051/apido:2000123

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Volume 31 / No 2 (March-April 2000)

Apidologie, 31 2 (2000) 293-299

Abstract

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Issue		Apidologie Volume 31, Number 2, March-April 2000 Taxonomy and Evolutionary biology of the Honeybees


Page(s)		293 - 299
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000123

\n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), CBLU, University of Leeds * revised and updated by: Marcus Hennecke, Ross Moore, Herb Swan * with significant contributions from: Jens Lippmann, Marek Rouchal, Martin Wilck and others --> 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. Keeling^a - Keith N. Slessor^a - Nikolaus Koeniger^b - Gudrun Koeniger^b - R.W.K. Punchihewa^c

^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
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