Identification of oxygen containing volatiles in cephalic secretions of workers of Brazilian stingless bees

Abstract

Os constituintes voláteis das secreções cefálicas de 11 espécies brasileiras de abelhas sem ferrão da linha Tetragonisca -Tetragona foram analisados. Foram identificados 145 compostos, por cromatografia gasosa e espectrometria de massas, dentre os quais 72 ésteres, 22 álcoois, 16 ácidos carboxílicos, 13 terpenos, 8 aldeídos, 4 compostos aromáticos, 2 lactonas e 1 diidropirano. As relações estruturais, origem e a distribuição detes compostos são discutidas. Com respeito à composição qualitativa e quantitativa, cada espécie mostra um buquê de odores, os quais são obtidos a partir de componentes poucos específicos. Em algumas espécies proximamente relacionadas foram observadas similaridades no buquê de odores. As fragmentações no espectro de massas de ésteres graxos e dos ésteres insaturados derivatizados com DMDS são discutidas em detalhes.The volatile constituents of cephalic secrections of 11 Brazilian social stingless bee species of the Tetragonisca -Tetragona line have been analysed. By gas chromatography/mass spectrometry 145 compounds could be identified which include 72 esters, 22 alcohols, 16 carboxylic acids, 13 terpenoids, 8 aldehydes, 7 ketones, 4 aromatic compounds, 2 lactones and 1 dihydropyran. Structural relations, origin, and distribution of these compounds are discussed. With respect to qualitative and quantitative composition, each species shows a specific odour pattern which is made up by less specific components. To a certain extent, closely related species show some similarities in the odour bouquets.The mass spectrometric fragmentation patterns of typical wax type esters and DMDS derivatives of unsaturated esters are discussed in detail.

Mandibular gland secretions of meliponine worker bees: further evidence for their role in interspecific and intraspecific defence and aggression and against their role in food source signalling

“…The temperature programme started at 50°C (5 min) and increased the temperature by 10°C per min up to 310°C (holding 310°C for 15 min). The compounds were identified by comparison of mass spectra of natural products with data from the literature (McLafferty and Stauffer, 1989;Francke et al, 2000) and those of authentic reference compounds.…”

Nota sobre abelhas Lestrimelitta rufipes (Freise) (Hymenoptera, Meliponina), atraídas por armadilhas com iscas odoríferas, na região Sul Fluminense do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

“…Ao saquear outras colmeias, as operárias liberam substâncias voláteis produzidas por suas glândulas mandibulares. Essas substâncias provocam a dispersão das abelhas da colmeia hospedeira, pois atuam na comunicação dessas abelhas, confundindo-as (Francke et al 2000). Com isso, elas conseguem saquear os ninhos e armazenar o alimento nos papos para poderem transportá-lo até seus ninhos.…”

Secretions of stingless bees: the Dufour glands of some Frieseomelitta species (Apidae, Meliponinae)

“…A compilation of the volatile compounds from the heads of a number of stingless bees, containing three species of Frieseomelitta, among them F. s. languida, has been published (Francke et al, 2000) but there are no reports of analyses of secretion of Dufour glands. Descriptions of the cephalic secretions of F. silvestrii and F. varia and F. silvestrii languida (Francke et al, 2000) have been published, and preliminary studies by electroantennography have been made with the head extracts of F. silvestrii and F. varia and some substances found in those extracts .…”

“…Descriptions of the cephalic secretions of F. silvestrii and F. varia and F. silvestrii languida (Francke et al, 2000) have been published, and preliminary studies by electroantennography have been made with the head extracts of F. silvestrii and F. varia and some substances found in those extracts . The plant resins (cerumen) carried on the corbicula of the hind tibia of these three species have also been analysed .…”