Honeybees discriminate cuticular waxes based on esters and polar components

Abstract

Quantitative chemical analyses of cuticular waxes of the honeybee Apis mellifera L. with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry showed significant differences in the chemical composition of cuticular waxes from drones and workers performing different tasks. We used the pro- boscis extension reflex to test the ability of bees to discriminate between these cuticular waxes. Dif- ferentially conditioned bees significantly discriminated between cuticular waxes of drones, food storers, foragers and queen attenders. We found that the esters and polar components in the cuticu- lar waxes provide the discriminative cues for the insects.