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Task Group Differences in Cuticular Lipids in the Honey Bee Apis mellifera

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Abstract

Social insects are defined by their ability to divide labor among their numerous nestmates. This is achieved via a complex system of chemical communication that allows colonies to organize task activity so as to maximize the productivity of the colony. However, the mechanism by which social insects distinguish task groups among morphologically identical individuals remains unknown. Using the honey bee, Apis mellifera, as our model species, we investigated the presence of task-specific patterns in the cuticular lipids (n-alkanes, fatty acids, and alkenes) of bees. Cuticular lipids are known to play an essential role in the recognition processes of insects. We found task-specific features in the n-alkane and alkene profiles of bees, but no task-specific patterns in the fatty acid profile. Foragers, in particular, had elevated levels of n-alkanes relative to nurse and newly emerged bees, suggesting increased waterproofing. Newly emerged bees had low levels of cuticular lipids, supporting the Blank Slate theory and potentially explaining their acceptance into foreign colonies.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Roger Butlin of the University of Sheffield and two anonymous reviewers for detailed comments on the manuscript. Funding was provided by the BBSRC grant number BB/G017077/1 and the East Anglian Beekeepers as part of the EARS project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

    Ricarda Kather & Stephen J. Martin

  2. Chemical Ecology Group, School of Physical and Geographical Sciences, Lennard-Jones Laboratory, Keele University, Keele, ST 5 5BG, UK

    Falko P. Drijfhout

Authors
  1. Ricarda Kather
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  2. Falko P. Drijfhout
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  3. Stephen J. Martin
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Correspondence to Ricarda Kather.

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Kather, R., Drijfhout, F.P. & Martin, S.J. Task Group Differences in Cuticular Lipids in the Honey Bee Apis mellifera . J Chem Ecol 37, 205–212 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-011-9909-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-011-9909-4

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