| Title: | Honey bee retinue workers respond similarly to queens despite seasonal differences in Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP) signaling |
| Author(s): | Carroll MJ; Brown NJ; Ruetz Z; Ricigliano VA; Anderson KE; |
| Address: | "Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America. Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America. Department of Entomology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0291710 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Honey bee colonies maintain viable queens in part through communication with Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP), a mixture that signals the queen's presence and reproductive quality to workers. In turn, workers are thought to provide retinue queen care or replace queens partially based on QMP profiles. We examined the effects of seasonal dearth (overwintering in a warm subtropical location) on queen-worker interactions. Retinue worker responses to continuously ovipositing queens were considered in view of QMP signaling and queen reproductive quality. QMP signaling was estimated from QMP residues recovered from nest worker bodies, which is the primary mode of QMP transfer from the queen to the colony at large. QMP residues varied seasonally but not at all with queen reproductive quality (spermatheca sperm storage, ovary protein and lipid contents). 9-HDA and 9-ODA were lower in January than other months. HOB decreased from July to January, while HVA, a component associated with mated queens, increased sharply in January. Despite these seasonal signaling differences, retinue workers attended queens at similar levels through the months. In terms of reproductive quality, queens did not differ over the months in matedness (spermatheca sperm storage) or physiological age (protein carbonyl content), but varied in nutrient allocation to reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. Queen ovaries contained more protein in September than in November, and more lipid in July and September than in November and January. Queen fat bodies had more protein in July than September or November, but less lipid in July and September than November or January. Retinue worker responses did not vary with seasonal QMP changes, but reflected overall continuous brood rearing efforts and queen matedness throughout the year. The absence of seasonal differences in worker responses to QMP should be considered in the broader context of continuous reproductive efforts in warm subtropical colonies" |
| Notes: | "PublisherCarroll, Mark J Brown, Nicholas J Ruetz, Zachary Ricigliano, Vincent A Anderson, Kirk E eng 2023/09/28 PLoS One. 2023 Sep 28; 18(9):e0291710. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291710. eCollection 2023" |
