Electroantennogram and behavioral response of workers of the stingless bee Oxytrigona mediorufa to mandibular gland volatiles
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis showed that the mandibular gland secretion of workers of the stingless bee Oxytrigona mediorufa (Cockerell) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is composed of 3-hepten-2,5-dione, 3-nonene-2,5-dione, 2-heptanone, hydrocarbons, tetradecyl, and hexadecyl acetates and minor compounds related to these. Behavioral and electroantennographic tests were carried out on conspecific workers to observe the effect of worker mandibular gland secretion, individual compounds (2-heptanone, 2-nonanone, and tetradecyl acetate), and a blend of these three. Bioassays showed that biting responses of O. mediorufa to the odor of the mandibular gland secretion were similar to that of 2-heptanone and to the three-component blend. Oxytrigona mediorufa workers exhibited antennal olfactory responses to the gland extract, 2-heptanone, and the synthetic mixture. The function of the mandibular gland secretion and 2-heptanone is discussed in terms of an alarm pheromone and defensive substances.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | Oxytrigona mediorufa, Abejas sin aguijón, Electroantenografía, Compuestos volátiles, Química analítica, |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|