| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Nunes, Tulio M.
[1]
;
Mateus, Sidnei
[1]
;
Turatti, Izabel C.
[2]
;
Morgan, E. David
[3]
;
Zucchi, Ronaldo
[1]
Total Authors: 5
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Quim & Fis, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[3] Keele Univ, Chem Ecol Grp, Lennard Jones Lab, Keele, Staffs - England
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR; v. 81, n. 2, p. 463-467, FEB 2011. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 16 |
| Abstract | |
Social insects use cuticular lipids for nestmate recognition. These lipids are chiefly hydrocarbons that can be endogenously produced or acquired from the environment. Although these compounds are already described as coming from different sources for different groups of social insects, nothing is known about the source of cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bees. We used behavioural recognition tests and cuticle chemical investigation to elucidate the role of endogenous and environmentally based cues for nestmate recognition in the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia. We found that although newly emerged workers present specific cuticle patterns according to their nest origin, these compounds are not used for nestmate recognition, since newly emerged workers are broadly accepted in different colonies. The cerumen used in nest construction played an important role in recognition behaviour. Twenty minutes of contact with foreign cerumen was sufficient to increase the rejection rates of nestmates and separate the groups of workers according to their chemical profile. On the other hand, tests of feeding on a common diet showed no effect on chemical cuticle pattern or recognition behaviour. (C) 2010 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU) | |