Electroantennogram and behavioral responses of workers of the stingless bee Oxytrigona mediorufa to mandibular gland volatiles |
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Authors: | L Cruz-López S Aguilar E A Malo M Rincón M Guzman & J C Rojas |
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Institution: | Departamento de Entomología, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.5, Tapachula, Chiapas, México, CP 30700,;Universidad Autonónoma de Chiapas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.0, Tapachula, Chiapas, México, CP 30700 |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | Hymenoptera Apidae 2-heptanone 3-hepten-2 5-dione alarm pheromone electroantennography defensive behavior |
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