Jarau S, Hrncir M, Zucchi R, Barth F G
Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2004 Mar;190(3):233-9. doi: 10.1007/s00359-003-0489-9. Epub 2004 Jan 20.
The pheromones used by several species of stingless bees for scent trail communication are generally assumed to be produced by the mandibular glands. Here we present strong evidence that in Trigona recursa these pheromones originate from the labial glands, which are well developed in the heads of foragers. Analysis of the behavior involved in scent marking shows that a bee extends her proboscis and rubs it over the substrate. A single scent marking event lasts for 0.59+/-0.21 s while the bee runs a stretch of 1.04+/-0.37 cm on a leaf. According to choice experiments the bees are attracted by a feeder baited with labial gland extract (84.2+/-6% of the bees choose this feeder) but repelled from a feeder baited with mandibular gland extract (only 27.5+/-13.1% of the bees choose this feeder). They do not discriminate between two clean feeders (49.6+/-3% of the bees at a feeder). 87+/-5.1% of bees already feeding leave the feeder after the application of mandibular gland extract whereas only 6.2+/-4.9% and 2.6+/-4% do so when labial gland extract or pure solvent was applied.
几种无刺蜂用于气味踪迹通讯的信息素通常被认为是由下颌腺产生的。在此我们提供了有力证据，表明在Trigona recursa中，这些信息素源自唇腺，唇腺在觅食工蜂的头部发育良好。对气味标记所涉及行为的分析表明，一只蜜蜂会伸出其喙并在基质上摩擦。一次气味标记事件持续0.59±0.21秒，而蜜蜂在一片叶子上移动1.04±0.37厘米的距离。根据选择实验，蜜蜂会被用唇腺提取物诱饵的喂食器吸引（84.2±6%的蜜蜂选择这个喂食器），但会被用下颌腺提取物诱饵的喂食器排斥（只有27.5±13.1%的蜜蜂选择这个喂食器）。它们对两个干净的喂食器没有偏好（在一个喂食器处49.6±3%的蜜蜂选择）。在涂抹下颌腺提取物后，已经在进食的87±5.1%的蜜蜂会离开喂食器，而在涂抹唇腺提取物或纯溶剂时，只有6.2±4.9%和2.6±4%的蜜蜂会这样做。
