Jarau Stefan, Schulz Claudia M, Hrncir Michael, Francke Wittko, Zucchi Ronaldo, Barth Friedrich G, Ayasse Manfred
Department of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Germany.
J Chem Ecol. 2006 Jul;32(7):1555-64. doi: 10.1007/s10886-006-9069-0. Epub 2006 May 23.
Foragers of many species of stingless bees guide their nestmates to food sources by means of scent trails deposited on solid substrates between the food and the nest. The corresponding trail pheromones are generally believed to be produced in the mandibular glands, although definitive experimental proof has never been provided. We tested the trail following behavior of recruits of Trigona recursa in field experiments with artificial scent trails branching off from natural scent trails of this stingless bee. First-time recruits (newcomers) did not follow these trails when they were laid with pure solvent or mandibular gland extract. However, they did follow trails made with labial gland extract. Chemical analyses of labial gland secretions revealed that hexyl decanoate was the dominant component (72.4 +/- 1.9% of all volatiles). Newcomers were significantly attracted to artificial trails made with synthetic hexyl decanoate, demonstrating its key function in eliciting scent-following behavior. According to our experiments with T. recursa, the trail pheromone is produced in the labial glands and not in the mandibular glands. Hexyl decanoate is the first component of a trail pheromone identified and proved to be behaviorally active in stingless bees.
许多无刺蜂物种的觅食者会通过在食物与巢穴之间的固体基质上留下气味踪迹，引导同巢伙伴前往食物源。人们普遍认为相应的踪迹信息素是在下颚腺中产生的，尽管从未有过确凿的实验证据。我们在野外实验中，用从这种无刺蜂的自然气味踪迹分支出来的人工气味踪迹，测试了Trigona recursa招募蜂的追踪行为。首次招募的蜂（新来者）在面对用纯溶剂或下颚腺提取物铺设的踪迹时不会追踪。然而，它们会追踪用唇腺提取物铺设的踪迹。对唇腺分泌物的化学分析表明，癸酸己酯是主要成分（占所有挥发物的72.4±1.9%）。新来者被用合成癸酸己酯制作的人工踪迹显著吸引，这表明其在引发气味追踪行为中起关键作用。根据我们对Trigona recursa的实验，踪迹信息素是在唇腺中产生的，而非下颚腺。癸酸己酯是第一种被鉴定并证明在无刺蜂中具有行为活性的踪迹信息素成分。
