Mandibular gland components and ovarian development as measures of caste differentiation in the honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.)

Abstract

Changes in mandibular gland pheromone production and ovarian development were investigated in queenless North American honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.). An intercaste, false queens, laying workers, queenless foragers and queenright workers were analyzed for the amounts of five mandibular gland pheromone components and for ovarian development. Pheromone composition was not related to ovarian development, in contrast to some previous studies with the African race, Apis mellifera capensis. These results suggest that queen/worker caste differentiation may be more strongly fixed during development in some honey bee races than in others.