Host recognition and the study of a chemical basis for attraction by cuckoo bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) |
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| Authors: | R M Fisher D R Greenwood G J Shaw |
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| Affiliation: | (1) Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada;(2) Mt Albert Research Centre, DSIR Plant Protection, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand;(3) DSIR Fruit and Trees, Private Bag, Palmerston North, New Zealand;(4) Department Botany and Zoology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | Species ofPsithyrus (Hymenoptera; Apidae) are obligate bumble bee social parasites. In this study, females ofP. vestalis andP. ashtoni were presented with pentane extracts prepared from different body parts of queens of their respective host species,Bombus terrestris andB. terricola. Parasites of both species were capable of distinguishing host bees from other bumble bee species using chemical cues contained within extracts. Among extracts of several body parts presented to parasites, the abdomen produced the greatest behavioral response, with Dufour's gland and terminal tergal segments eliciting the greatest response among abdominal regions. Extracts of these two body parts obtained fromB. terrestris queens shared a number of compounds, identified by GC-MS. Among the identified compounds are a number that have been reported to be of importance in bee sociochemistry. |
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| Keywords: | Host recognition volatiles social parasitism cuckoo bumble bees Bombus terrestris Bombus terricola Psithyrus vestalis Psithyrus ashtoni Hymenoptera Apidae Dufour's gland tergal gland |
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