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Abstract
Juvenile Hormone (JH) is considered the main determinant of caste in social insects, though little is known about how this hormone acts in social wasps, especially the independent-founding species. The known relationship between JH titer and caste in the colony and we suggest a relationship among the effects of JH and the cuticular chemical profile. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that topical application of JH to larvae of different instars alters the cuticular chemical composition of newly emerged females of Mischocyttarus consimilis (Zikán), influencing the dynamics of colony. Two techniques were used to evaluate the variation in cuticular chemical composition: Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Indeed, the application of JH did significantly alter the cuticular chemical composition of adult females that received treatment at the larval stage in comparison to control. The effects of JH were instar-dependent in that the results of topical application were significant when performed at third larval instar. Overall, these results add evidence that caste determination may, at least in part may be pre-imaginal in species of independent-founding social wasps.
Highlights
Among other factors, the success of perfect social organization in insects is built on recognition among nestmates
EF Neves et al – Effect of Juvenile Hormone on Mischocyttarus consimilis larvae of which were applied with JH in the 3rd instar, and controls had significant difference in cuticle composition (F = 5.310; p = 0.027) and that functional group 8 (1650) N-H and/or C-N (Amide II) was/were the most important compound(s) for the separation of these two groups
Visual inspection of the chromatograms obtained by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (Fig 3) showed that the groups receiving JH application at the third, fourth, and fifth larval instars presented
Summary
The success of perfect social organization in insects is built on recognition among nestmates. This phenomenon is a determinant for avoidance of predators and parasites, or even loss of resources (Mitra et al, 2014). Other compounds in the cuticle of insects can act as pheromones, promoting interactions between individuals of the same species. These compounds are mainly represented by hydrocarbons produced in the oenocytes, absorbed by lipophorin and transported by hemolymph (Howard & Blomquist, 2005; Blomquist & Bagnères, 2010; Gullan & Cranston, 2012)
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