Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Orchid Bees Males: Interspecific and Chemotaxonomy Variation

Author(s)

dos Santos, Aline Borba ^[1] ; do Nascimento, Fabio Santos ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, FFCLRP, Dept Biol, Lab Comportamento & Ecol Insetos Sociais, BR-14040901 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 10, n. 12 DEC 29 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Recent studies have investigated the composition of compounds that cover the cuticle in social insects, but few studies have focused on solitary bees. Cuticular hydrocarbons may provide a tool for chemotaxonomy, and perhaps they can be used as a complement to morphology and genetic characters in phylogenetic studies. Orchid bees (Tribe Euglossini) are a highly diverse group of Neotropical bees with more than 200 species. Here, the cuticular hydrocarbons of 17 species were identified and statistical analysis revealed 108 compounds, which allowed for the taxonomic classification according to the genera. The most significant compounds discriminating the four genera were (Z)-9-pentacosene, (Z, Z)-pentatriacontene- 3, (Z)-9-tricosene, and (Z)-9-heptacosene. The analyses demonstrated the potential use of CHCs to identify different species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/19449-0 - Population dynamics, genetic structure, and cuticular chemistry of Euglossini in fragments of Caatinga and Atlantic Rainforest of Sergipe, Brazil
• Grantee: Aline Borba dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/10027-5 - Behavioural mediation, chemical signalisation and physiological aspects regulating the social organization in hymenopterans
• Grantee: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants