Psithyrus females do possess wax glands

Sramkova, Anna; Ayasse, Manfred

doi:10.1007/s00040-008-1020-7

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…This may help "fool" host workers into rearing Psithyrus eggs. The recent finding that Psithyrus females have retained their ability to produce wax also may help explain their chemical integration into the colony (Sramkova and Ayasse 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Host Specific Social Parasites (Psithyrus) Indicate Chemical Recognition System in Bumblebees

et al. 2010

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Semiochemicals influence many aspects of insect behavior, including interactions between parasites and their hosts. We studied the chemical recognition system of bumblebees (Bombus) by examining the cuticular hydrocarbon cues of 14 species, including five species of social parasites, known as cuckoo bees (subgenus Psithyrus). We found that bumblebees possess species-specific alkene positional isomer profiles that are stable over large geographical regions and are mimicked by three host-specific cuckoo parasites. In three host-cuckoo associations where mimicry is poor, possibly due to recent host shifts, these cuckoos produce dodecyl acetate a known chemical repellent that allows the cuckoos to invade their host colonies. Our findings indicate cuckoos use two chemical mechanisms, mimicry and repellents, to invade their hosts, and this may reflect different stages of an ongoing dynamic arms race.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Host Specific Social Parasites (Psithyrus) Indicate Chemical Recognition System in Bumblebees

et al. 2010

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“…All Psithyrus species are completely dependent on their host because these socially parasitic bumblebees do not produce a worker caste, do not have pollen collection baskets and produce little to no wax to build cells (Benton, ; Sramkova & Ayasse, ). In the Alpinobombus subgenus, the circum arctic B .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cephalic labial gland secretions of two socially parasitic bumblebees Bombus hyperboreus (Alpinobombus) and Bombus inexspectatus (Thoracobombus) question their inquiline strategy

et al. 2017

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Social parasitic Hymenopterans have evolved morphological, chemical, and behavioral adaptations to overcome the sophisticated recognition and defense systems of their social host to invade host nests and exploit their worker force. In bumblebees, social parasitism appeared in at least 3 subgenera independently: in the subgenus Psithyrus consisting entirely of parasitic species, in the subgenus Alpinobombus with Bombus hyperboreus, and in the subgenus Thoracobombus with B. inexspectatus. Cuckoo bumblebee males utilize species-specific cephalic labial gland secretions for mating purposes that can impact their inquiline strategy. We performed cephalic labial gland secretions in B. hyperboreus, B. inexspectatus and their hosts. Males of both parasitic species exhibited high species specific levels of cephalic gland secretions, including different main compounds. Our results showed no chemical mimicry in the cephalic gland secretions between inquilines and their host and we did not identify the repellent compounds already known in other cuckoo bumblebees.

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“…In addition, wax production changes have been associated with the reproductive status of bees such as Bombus (Psithyrus) bohemicus (Seidl), Bombus (Psithyrus) sylvestris (Lepeletier), Bombus (Psithyrus) vestalis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy), and Melipona bicolor Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Koedam et al 2002, Sramkova and Ayasse 2008, Franzini, 2012. Such changes have also been observed to be associated with age in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Hepburn et al 1991, Muller andHepburn 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Epidermis Associated with Wax Secretion in theHarpactor angulosus(Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Pikart

Souza

Ribeiro

et al. 2014

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Beginning at the third instar, the generalist predator Harpactor angulosus (Lepeletier & Serville) (Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) appears gray in color because of the presence of a whitish particulate wax-like material covering all body segments. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that epidermal cells are responsible for the secretion of the wax-like substance onto the cuticle of H. angulosus. The integument of third instar to the adults of H. angulosus have no external structures specialized in wax secretion, as the wax particles are deposited in a filamentous manner. Third to fourth instars and adult stages have a single-layered epidermis composed of columnar cells. In contrast, lack of wax deposit on the body surface of first and second instars is associated with flattened epidermal cells. The columnar epidermal cells are characterized by a well-developed nucleus, basal cell surface with large infoldings, and a cytoplasm rich in vacuoles. These vacuoles are negative for the presence of carbohydrates and proteins, but strongly positive for the presence of lipids. The structural features of the epidermis and the presence of lipid droplets suggest that lipid metabolism is active within the epidermis from the third instar to the adult of H. angulosus. This is the first record of a glandular epidermis associated with wax secretions in Reduviidae.

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Psithyrus females do possess wax glands

Cited by 7 publications

References 3 publications

Host Specific Social Parasites (Psithyrus) Indicate Chemical Recognition System in Bumblebees

Host Specific Social Parasites (Psithyrus) Indicate Chemical Recognition System in Bumblebees

The cephalic labial gland secretions of two socially parasitic bumblebees Bombus hyperboreus (Alpinobombus) and Bombus inexspectatus (Thoracobombus) question their inquiline strategy

Epidermis Associated with Wax Secretion in theHarpactor angulosus(Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

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