The cuticular hydrocarbons profiles in the stingless bee Melipona marginata reflect task-related differences

Autor(es)

Ferreira-Caliman, M. J. ^[1] ; Nascimento, F. S. ^[1] ; Turatti, I. C. ^[2] ; Mateus, S. ^[1] ; Lopes, N. P. ^[2] ; Zucchi, R. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, BR-3900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-3900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY; v. 56, n. 7, p. 800-804, JUL 2010.
• Citações Web of Science: 32

Resumo

Members of social insect colonies employ a large variety of chemical signals during their life. Of these, cuticular hydrocarbons are of primary importance for social insects since they allow for the recognition of conspecifics, nestmates and even members of different castes. The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the variation of the chemical profiles among workers of the stingless bee Melipona marginata, and (2) to investigate the dependence of the chemical profiles on the age and on the behavior of the studied individuals. The results showed that cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of workers were composed of alkanes, alkenes and alkadienes that varied quantitatively and qualitatively according to function of workers in the colony. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 04/09479-8 - Aplicação da cromatografia gasosa nos estudos de interações ecológicas de plantas e animais vertebrados e invertebrados
• Beneficiário: Ronaldo Zucchi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Equipamentos Multiusuários