Marking pheromones of the cuckoo bumblebee males (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Bombus Latreille): compositions of labial gland secretions of six species found in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Labial gland secretions of males of six cuckoo bumblebee species ( Bombus vestalis, Bombus rupestris, Bombus campestris, Bombus sylvestris, Bombus bohemicus, and Bombus maxillosus) were analysed and components of their extracts were identified. The specimens of two species collected in the Czech Republic had a significantly different composition of the labial gland secretions than those described earlier in Scandinavia ( B. rupestris, B. campestris). Czech populations of three other species studied ( B. vestalis, B. sylvestris, and B. bohemicus) produced similar components as those known from the literature. Marking pheromone of B. maxillosus is here reported for the first time. This paper describes detailed analyses of the labial gland secretions including minor and trace components and a determination of the double bond positions in unsaturated compounds.