Terpenoids tame aggressors: role of chemicals in stingless bee communal nesting

Sara Leonhardt; L-M Jung; T Schmitt; N Bluthgen

doi:10.1007/s00265-010-0956-6

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Terpenoids tame aggressors: role of chemicals in stingless bee communal nesting

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Terpenoids tame aggressors: role of chemicals in stingless bee communal nesting

Sara Leonhardt, L-M Jung, T Schmitt and N Bluthgen

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Vol.64(9), pp.1415-1423

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-010-0956-6

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Abstract

Zoology

stingless bees

Meliponini

aggression

terpenes

chemical profile

communal nesting

Social insects aggressively defend their nest and surrounding against non-nestmates, which they recognize by an unfamiliar profile of aliphatic hydrocarbons on the cuticle. Prominent exceptions are communal nest aggregations of stingless bees. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are also unique in possessing cuticular terpenes which are derived from tree resins and have not yet been reported for any other insect. We showed experimentally that sesquiterpenes from the body surface of the communal nesting bee Tetragonilla collina reduced aggression in otherwise aggressive bees which did not have sesquiterpenes themselves. In the field, bee species nesting in aggregations with T. collina often lack sesquiterpenes in their own cuticular profiles. These species show little aggression towards T. collina, whereas it can be heavily attacked by non-aggregated species that also possess cuticular sesquiterpenes. We conclude that appeasement by sesquiterpenes represents a novel mechanism to achieve interspecific tolerance in social insects.

Details

Title: Terpenoids tame aggressors: role of chemicals in stingless bee communal nesting
Authors: Sara Leonhardt (Author) - University of Würzburg, Germany
L-M Jung (Author) - University of Würzburg, Germany
T Schmitt (Author) - University of Freiburg, Germany
N Bluthgen (Author) - University of Würzburg, Germany
Publication details: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Vol.64(9), pp.1415-1423
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-0956-6
ISSN: 0340-5443
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449440502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Behavioral Sciences; Ecology; Zoology

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