Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar1, Theresa C. Wossler1, and Michael H. Allsopp2. (1) Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa, (2) Honeybee Research Section, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Private Bag X5017, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa
In the last decade Apis mellifera capensis workers artificially moved to northern South Africa, invaded A. m. scutellata colonies, taking on parasitic pseudoqueen roles. Separated for approximately 15 years from their native counterparts we wanted to determine whether mandibular gland secretions (MGS) of parasitic workers of various ages, differed from native A. m. capensis workers. Moreover we investigated queen presence and race on worker MGS production. The quantity and contribution of the major mandibular gland components of all workers were analysed. MGS of the parasitic population were significantly different from that of native A. m. capensis population for all age cohorts when aged in a constant environment (global R = 0.418, p = 0.001). The percentage contribution of 10HDA decreased and 9HDA increased with age for both populations, however parasitic workers developed queenlike signals at a faster rate. Queen presence had a significant effect with parasitic workers in queenless nucs producing significantly more 9ODA than workers in queenright nucs (Mann-Whitney: U = 634, n = 111, p < 0.0001), while workers in queenright nucs produced significantly more 9HDA than queenless workers (Mann-Whitney: U = 922, n = 111, p = 0.0003). This hints at queen suppression/inhibition of the final oxidation step in the 9ODA production pathway. In addition, queen race also had an effect with the percentage contribution of 9ODA in workers in queenright A. m. scutellata nucs containing twice as much than those in A. m. capensis nucs (10.72 % vs 4.97%). This suggests that A. m. capensis queens are better at regulating worker MGS production. The results suggest that the mandibular gland profiles of parasitic workers have diverged from the majority of the native worker population, however continued overlap in individual worker secretions from both populations suggest that these two populations are not distinct.
See more of Posters and Exhibits, Group B
See more of Poster Presentations
See more of The IUSSI 2006 Congress