An Unexpected “Appeasement Signal”: the Role of Sesquiterpenes in the Chemical Profile of Tropical Stingless Bees

Sara Leonhardt; N Bluthgen; T Schmitt

Conference presentation

An Unexpected “Appeasement Signal”: the Role of Sesquiterpenes in the Chemical Profile of Tropical Stingless Bees

Sara Leonhardt, N Bluthgen and T Schmitt

Annual Meeting of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE), 25th (Neuchatel, Switzerland, 23-Aug-2009–27-Aug-2009)

2009

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Abstract

Zoology

Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) of Borneo appear to be unique in having species-specific compositions of terpenoid compounds in their chemical profi les, which are likely derived from plant resins1. Whole groups of terpenes (e.g. sesquiterpenes) can be found in the chemical profi le of some species, but are missing in the profi le of others. We investigated the role of sesquiterpenes in inter- and intraspecifi c aggression. Sesquiterpenes, abundant in the chemical profi le of several bees, were added to the chemical profi le of Tetragonula melanocephala, a species that does not express sesquiterpenes in its own profi le. Such modifi ed profi les signifi cantly reduced aggression in T. melanocephala in intercolonial encounters, suggesting that cuticular sesquiterpenes confuse T. melanocephala bees by "masking" their actual profi le. This mechanism may explain why bee species without sesquiterpenes in their chemical profi le barely show aggression towards species with sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes may promote aggregated nesting in Bornean stingless bees, particularly between species with and without sesquiterpenes. Moreover, terpenes and their infl uence on aggression may provide a potential explanation for the widespread occurrence of aggregated nesting in paleotropical stingless bees, which seems to be absent among their highly aggressive neotropical relatives.

Details

Title: An Unexpected “Appeasement Signal”: the Role of Sesquiterpenes in the Chemical Profile of Tropical Stingless Bees
Authors: Sara Leonhardt (Author) - University of Wurzburg, Germany
N Bluthgen (Author) - University of Wurzburg, Germany
T Schmitt (Author) - University of Freiburg, Germany
Conference details: Annual Meeting of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE), 25th (Neuchatel, Switzerland, 23-Aug-2009–27-Aug-2009)
Date published: 2009
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448759202621
Output Type: Conference presentation

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