Chemical basis for inter-colonial aggression in the stingless bee Scaptotrigona bipunctata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) |
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| Authors: | Jungnickel H da Costa A J S Tentschert J Patricio Eda Flávia L R A Imperatriz-Fonseca V L Drijfhout F Morgan E D |
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| Affiliation: | Chemical Ecology Group, Lennard-Jones-Laboratory, University of Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. |
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| Abstract: | Inter-colonial aggression was tested using three colonies of Scaptotrigona bipunctata in a natural setting when their nests were moved and by artificial contact between individuals. Examination of the cuticular lipids of individuals from two colonies kept under identical conditions showed clear differences in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. The cuticular lipids were a mixture of hydrocarbons (saturated and unsaturated alkanes and alkenes) within the range of C23-C29. The use of multivariate analysis (PCA and discriminant analysis) showed that seven of the identified surface compounds are enough to separate workers from colonies A and B from each other. |
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| Keywords: | Stingless bees Guard bees Colony aggression Cuticular hydrocarbons Insect wings Scaptotrigona bipunctata |
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