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

Patricio, E.F.L.R.A.; López, Leopoldo Cruz; Maile, Roland; Morgan, E. David

doi:10.1051/apido:2003027

Cited by 15 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The Dufour gland is not present in males, and is probably responsible for the striking chemical differences in abdomenal extracts (Abdalla et al 2004). The Dufour gland also is absent in workers of Trigona, Oxytrigona, Cephalotrigona, Scaptotrigona, Partamona, and Lestrimelitta (Lello 1976;Patricio et al 2003). However, all species of the Plebeia group, including P. droryana, have Dufour glands (queens and workers).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is located at the base of the sting apparatus, ventrally to the poison gland, and opens into the dorsal vaginal wall (Roubik 1989;CruzLópez et al 2001;Abdalla et al 2004). It normally is present in some females of Apoidea, but is absent or vestigial in workers of Melipona species (Patricio et al 2003). The Dufour glands secrete a variety of compounds (macrolactones, hydrocarbons, triglycerides, and terpenoids), and each species has a particular chemical composition (Abdalla et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers

et al. 2009

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Cuticular wax, abdominal and cephalic extracts of foraging workers and males of Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana, from the "Aretuzina" farm in São Simão, SP, Brazil, were analyzed by GC-MS. The principal constituents were hydrocarbons, terpenes, aldehydes, esters, steroids, alcohols, and fatty acids. Interspecific differences for both cuticular wax and cephalic extracts were found. The composition of cuticular wax and cephalic extracts was similar at the intraspecific level, with minor component differences between males and workers. Abdominal extracts differentiated sexes (male and worker) at the intraspecific and interspecific levels. The main chemical components in abdominal extracts of N. testaceicornis workers and males were geranylgeranyl acetate and (Z)-9-nonacosene, respectively. The principal components of abdominal extracts from P. droryana workers and males were tetradecanal and unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids), respectively. A secondary alcohol, (S)-2-nonanol, was detected in Plebeia droryana males only, but not in workers. Preliminary field experiments showed that (S)-(+)-2-heptanol and (S)-(+)-2-heptanol/(S)-(+)-2-nonanol (1:1) attracted workers of P. droryana, N. testaceicornis,and Frieseomelitta silvestrii. However, males did not respond suggesting that these compounds do not function as alarm or recruitment pheromones. In addition, racemic mixtures were inactive.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers

et al. 2009

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“…araujoi while none was detected in H. ruspolii. Terpenes are oxygen containing compounds and have been found in the secretions of cephalic glands of some neotropical stingless bees (Francke et al 2000;Cruz-López et al 2001;Patricio et al 2003;Cruz-López et al 2005).…”

Section: Quantitative Chemical Profiles From Head Extracts Of Hypotrimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chemical compositions of the mandibular as well as those of the cephalic extracts from some species of Neotropical stingless bees like Scaptotrigona postica and Frieseomelitta species have been studied extensively (López et al 2002;Patricio et al 2003;Cruz-López et al 2005). By contrast, little is known on the cephalic secretions from African stingless bees (reviewed in Leonhardt 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic tool

et al. 2018

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Stingless bees are important pollinators of plants, and also producers of honey. Species within the African stingless bee genus Hypotrigona are difficult to differentiate due to morphological similarities. Chemical profiles of whole head extracts from workers of three Hypotrigona species: H. gribodoi, H. araujoi and H. ruspolii were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 50 components belonging to six chemical classes: hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, terpenoids, steroids and fatty acids were identified. Twenty nine compounds were found in H. araujoi, 26 in H. gribodoi and 33 in H. ruspolii head extracts. Hydrocarbons, alcohols and fatty acids were the major classes, whilst steroids and terpenoids were minor. Aldehydes were found only in H. ruspolii while terpenoids were only present in extracts of H. gribodoi and H. araujoi. Eight chemical compounds were specific to H. araujoi, six to H. gribodoi and nine to H. ruspolii, showing both qualitative and quantitative differences. Workers were successfully grouped into their respective species using their chemical profiles. This study shows that head extracts can be used as a reliable taxonomic tool for identifying and differentiating Hypotrigona species.

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“…Engels and Francke have together analyzed the cephalic secretions of a large number of species and made relations to age and development (Engels et al, 1993(Engels et al, , 1997Francke et al, 2000;and earlier papers). We have only recently made the first chemical studies of the Dufour glands of stingless bees (Cruz-López et al, 2001;Patricio et al, 2003). Some early studies with pure chemicals were made to study their effects on the behaviour of stingless bees (Weaver et al, 1975;Smith & Roubik, 1983), but the subject has progressed slowly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroantennography in the study of two stingless bee species (Hymenoptera: meliponini)

2004

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The first recorded electroantennographic preliminary studies on stingless bees have been performed using two species of Frieseomelitta from Brazil. Experiments with F. silvestrii and F. varia showed that antennae respond to hexane extracts of heads and abdomens of both species and posterior tibia of F. silvestrii (which carry plant resin), as well as to the pure compounds 2-heptanol and 2-nonanol, which occur in the mandibular glands of both species, and to the terpenes alpha-cubebene, humulene, and beta-caryophyllene found on their tibia and in the cerumen of their nests.

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

Cited by 15 publications

References 23 publications

Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers

Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers

Compounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic tool

Electroantennography in the study of two stingless bee species (Hymenoptera: meliponini)

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