Title: | "Cross-mating between the alien bumblebee Bombus terrestris and two native Japanese bumblebees, B. hypocrita sapporensis and B. cryptarum florilegus, in the Nemuro Peninsula, Japan" |
Author(s): | Kubo R; Asanuma Y; Fujimoto E; Okuyama H; Ono M; Takahashi JI; |
Address: | "Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, 6-1-1, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo, Motoyama, Kita-Ku, Kyoto, Japan. Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kamigamo, Motoyama, Kita-Ku, Kyoto, Japan. jit@cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp" |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-023-38631-7 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The rapid naturalization of Bombus terrestris across the Nemuro Peninsula has led to a decline in two closely related native Japanese species, namely Bombus hypocrita sapporensis and Bombus cryptarum florilegus, both belonging to the common subgenus Bombus. Although it is widely believed that cross-mating of native and non-native species is influenced by the common male sex pheromone in this region, no study has been conducted to substantiate this claim. Thus, we investigated the cross-activities of male sex pheromones between native and non-native bumblebees, as well as the frequencies of cross-mating, using chemical and DNA assays. Our gas chromatography-electroantennographic detector analyses and behavioral tests revealed the presence of sex pheromonal cross-activities between B. terrestris and the two Japanese bumblebees species. Furthermore, DNA analyses revealed the occurrence of cross-mating between native and non-native species in the Nemuro Peninsula. Overall, these results indicate the immediate need for conservation measures to safeguard Japanese bumblebee populations in the Nemuro Peninsula" |
Keywords: | "Animals Male *Bees DNA Japan Mating Preference, Animal *Sexual Behavior, Animal *Sex Attractants;" |
Notes: | "MedlineKubo, Ryohei Asanuma, Yuine Fujimoto, Erina Okuyama, Hisashi Ono, Masato Takahashi, Jun-Ichi eng England 2023/07/18 Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 17; 13(1):11506. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-38631-7" |