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Naturwissenschaften

Title:		Pheromonal contest between honeybee workers (Apis mellifera capensis)
Author(s):		Moritz RF; Simon UE; Crewe RM;
Address:		"Institut fur Zoologie, Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany. r.moritz@zoologie.uni-halle.de"
Journal Title:		Naturwissenschaften
Year:		2000
Volume:		87
Issue:		9
Page Number:		395 - 397
DOI:		10.1007/s001140050748
ISSN/ISBN:		0028-1042 (Print) 0028-1042 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Queenless workers of the Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis) can develop into reproductives termed pseudoqueens. Although they morphologically remain workers they become physiologically queenlike, produce offspring, and secrete mandibular gland pheromones similar to those of true queens. However, after queen loss only very few workers gain pseudoqueen status. A strong intracolonial selection governs which workers start oviposition and which remain sterile. The 'queen substance', 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid (9-ODA), the dominant compound of the queen's mandibular gland pheromones, suppresses the secretion of queenlike mandibular gland pheromones in workers. It may act as an important signal in pseudoqueen selection. By analysing the mandibular gland pheromones of workers kept in pairs, we found that A. m. capensis workers compete to produce the strongest queen-like signal"
Keywords:		"Animals Bees/*physiology Exocrine Glands/physiology Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated/*metabolism Female Oviposition Pheromones/*physiology Reproduction/physiology Social Behavior;"
Notes:		"MedlineMoritz, R F Simon, U E Crewe, R M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2000/11/25 Naturwissenschaften. 2000 Sep; 87(9):395-7. doi: 10.1007/s001140050748"