Comparison and correlation between chemical profiles of cephalic salivary glands and cuticle surface of workers ofApis mellifera(Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

The cuticle surface of insects displays functions in communication, such as recognition. It is known that oenocytes are responsible for the origin of the compounds found in the epicuticle. Secretion of exocrine glands might be added to the original composition during the insect’s life. The aims of the present study were (i) to quantify and to qualify the chemical compounds in cephalic salivary glands (CSG) and cuticle surface of workers of Apis mellifera L., 1758; (ii) to compare chemical profiles of both gland and cuticle; (iii) to verify if the epicuticular and CSG profile compositions allow separation of the workers into phase-related groups. Glands and wings of newly emerged workers, nurses, and foragers were analyzed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The results have shown that the main compounds in both were hydrocarbons. The Mantel correspondence analysis showed that there was relatively strong correspondence between CSG and cuticular surface in all groups, mainly nurses and foragers. From a total of 37 detected compounds, 29 were the same in both compartments. The results indicated that the gland secretion might be used to replenish the cuticular compounds. In conclusion, glands and cuticle profiles were phase-related and the CSG may be a potential auxiliary source of cuticular hydrocarbon replenishment in the studied species.

Relationship Between Hydrocarbon Composition on the Cuticle of Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Workers and the Secretion of the Cephalic Salivary Glands

“…However, some epidermal cells that function as tegumental glands are also involved in cuticle hydrocarbon synthesis (Kramer & Wigglesworth, 1950;Abdalla et al, 2003) and such compounds can be fully or partially stored in glands after being released as secretion . The present research showed that hydrocarbons were the major compounds in CSG indicating that the studied gland may be an auxiliary source of cuticle hydrocarbons as observed in A. mellifera (Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017;Martin et al, 2018). In ants, the postpharyngeal gland (PPG) contains similar hydrocarbons found on cuticle surface (Bagnères & Morgan, 1991;Kaib et al, 2000).…”

“…Thus, in addition to the class III exocrine glands, all glands of ectodermal origin such as tegumental class I gland and exocrine glands structured as organs (Cruz-Landim, 1994) have the potential to contribute to secretion and formation of surface compounds. In fact, cephalic salivary glands (GSC) and Dufour's have been pointed out as source of these hydrocarbons (Kullenberget al, 1973;Bergman & Bergström, 1997;Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017).…”

“…The chemical profile of CSG has been investigated among bees. Hydrocarbons are present in newly emerged, nurse and forager workers of Apis mellifera Linnaeus and some males of Bombus species (Kullenberg et al, 1973;Katzav-Gozansky et al, 2001;Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017). Esters are most likely found in newly emerged, nurse and forager workers of Meliponini bees (Jarau et al, 2006;Schorkopf et al, 2007;Stangler et al, 2009;Poiani et al, 2015) and a mixture of oxygenated compounds and hydrocarbons were observed in virgin and old queens and workers of Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus) (Amsalem et al, 2014).…”

“…Also, it aids to handle resins collected in the field (Santos et al, 2009). In A. mellifera and some Bombus species, the hydrocarbons produced by CSG are also present in the cuticle of workers (Kullenberg et al, 1973;Arnold et al, 1996;Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017;Martin et al, 2018). In A. mellifera, CSG may take part as an auxiliary source of cuticular hydrocarbons (Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017).…”

“…In A. mellifera and some Bombus species, the hydrocarbons produced by CSG are also present in the cuticle of workers (Kullenberg et al, 1973;Arnold et al, 1996;Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017;Martin et al, 2018). In A. mellifera, CSG may take part as an auxiliary source of cuticular hydrocarbons (Poiani & Cruz-Landim, 2017). Males of some Bombus species use CSG content for territorial marking and female attraction (Terzo et al, 2007;Amsalem et al, 2014).…”