Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) queen feces: Source of a pheromone that repels worker bees |
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Authors: | David C. Post Robert E. Page Jr. Eric H. Erickson Jr. |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, 53706 Madison, Wisconsin;(2) Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, 42310 Columbus, Ohio;(3) Bee Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, 53706 Madison, Wisconsin |
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Abstract: | When placed in a small observation arena with workers, most young virgin honeybee queens released fecal (hindgut) material during agonistic interactions with workers and with each other. On release of this material, workers moved to the sides of the arena and groomed themselves. Bioassays of virgin queen fecal material demonstrated that it contains pheromone that repels workers and stimulates grooming behavior. Pheromone was present only in the feces of virgin queens that were more than 24 hr old and less than 2 weeks old. Feces of 2- to 4-day-old workers and virgin queens more than 2 weeks old did not elicit an avoidance response by workers. Moreover, the feces of young virgin queens had a strong fragrance, while that of older queens had a rancid odor and that of young workers had no detectable odor. |
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Keywords: | Honeybee Apis mellifera Hymenoptera Apidae feces queen pheromone queen acceptance repellent |
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