Abstract
Reproductive division of labor is one of the defining traits of honey bees (Apis mellifera), with non-reproductive tasks being performed by workers while a single queen normally monopolizes reproduction. The decentralized organization of a honey bee colony is maintained in large part by a bouquet of queen-produced pheromones, the distribution of which is facilitated by contact among workers throughout the hive. Previous studies have shown that the developmental fate of honey bee queens is highly plastic, with queens raised from younger worker larvae exhibiting higher measures of reproductive potential compared to queens raised from older worker larvae. We investigated differences in the chemical composition of the mandibular glands and attractiveness to workers of “high-quality” queens (i.e., raised from first instar worker larvae; more queen-like) and “low-quality” queens (i.e., raised from third instar worker larvae; more worker-like). We characterized the chemical profiles of the mandibular glands of high-quality queens and low-quality queens using GC-MS and used the worker retinue response as a measure of the attractiveness to workers of high-quality queens vs. low-quality queens. We found that queen quality affected the chemical profiles of mandibular gland contents differently across years, showing significant differences in the production of the queen mandibular pheromone (“QMP”) components HVA and 9-HDA in 2010, but no significant differences of any glandular compound in 2012. We also found that workers were significantly more attracted to high-quality queens than to low-quality queens in 2012, possibly because of increased attractiveness of their mandibular gland chemical profiles. Our results indicate that the age at which honey bee larvae enter the “queen-specific” developmental pathway influences the chemical composition of queen mandibular glands and worker behavior. However, these changes are not consistent across years, suggesting that other external factors may play important roles in modulating queen quality.
Highlights
By definition, highly eusocial insects exhibit extreme reproductive division of labor [1], whereby reproduction is typically monopolized by one or a few queens
Previous studies have shown that in queenless colonies, the age of larvae when chosen by workers to be raised as queens can range from the first to the third larval instars [12,13]. This plasticity in queen phenotype leads to inherent variation in the reproductive potential of mated queens, with queens that develop from third instar larvae being more “worker-like.”
The chemical analysis of mandibular gland extracts obtained from honey bee queens raised from first instar worker larvae or third instar worker larvae yielded a total of 58 different compounds that were detected in all the extracts but not in blanks
Summary
Highly eusocial insects exhibit extreme reproductive division of labor [1], whereby reproduction is typically monopolized by one or a few queens. Previous studies have shown that in queenless colonies, the age of larvae when chosen by workers to be raised as queens can range from the first to the third larval instars [12,13] This plasticity in queen phenotype leads to inherent variation in the reproductive potential of mated queens, with queens that develop from third instar larvae (compared to those that develop from first instar larvae) being more “worker-like.”. These queens usually exhibit lower individual fitness and head colonies with lower growth and productivity [11]. Queens raised from first instar larvae mate more frequently and have higher spermatozoa counts in the spermatheca than queens raised from third instar larvae [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
