Queen Harems of Higher Termites are Regulated by Queen Pheromone

In a recent study, Amsalem et al. performed experiments with Bombus impatiens bumblebees to test the hypothesis that saturated cuticular hydrocarbons are evolutionarily conserved signals used to regulate reproductive division of labour in many Hymenopteran social insects. They concluded that the cuticular hydrocarbon pentacosane (C25), previously identified as a queen pheromone in a congeneric bumblebee, does not affect worker reproduction in B. impatiens. Here we identify some significant shortcomings of Amsalem et al.’s study that make its conclusions unreliable. In particular, inappropriate statistical tests were used, and a reanalysis of their dataset found that C25 substantially reduced and delayed worker egg laying in B. impatiens. Additionally, the study’s low sample sizes (mean n per treatment = 13.6, range: 4-23) give it low power, not 99% power as claimed, meaning that some its non-significant results may be false negatives. Additionally, several confounding effects may have affected the results of both experimental manipulations in the study

Antifungal activity of a termite queen pheromone against egg-mimicking termite ball fungi

Ecological Research ◽

10.1007/s11284-014-1213-7 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 93-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Kenji Matsuura ◽

Takeshi Matsunaga

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Queen Pheromone ◽

Termite Ball

INTRA-NEST TRANSMISSION OF AROMATIC HONEY BEE QUEEN MANDIBULAR GLAND PHEROMONE COMPONENTS: MOVEMENT AS A UNIT

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent124917-5 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 124 (5) ◽

pp. 917-934 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Ken Naumann ◽

Mark L. Winston ◽

Keith N. Slessor ◽

Glenn D. Prestwich ◽

Bachir Latli

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Mandibular Gland ◽

Queen Pheromone ◽

The Body ◽

Decenoic Acid ◽

Pheromone Components ◽

Aromatic Components ◽

Honey Bee Queen ◽

Pheromone Complex ◽

Queen Mandibular Gland Pheromone

AbstractThe intra-nest transmission of two aromatic components of honey bee queen mandibular gland pheromone, 4-hydroxy-3-hydroxyphenylethanol (HVA) and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (HOB), is quantitatively described. After being secreted onto the body surface of the queen, the greatest quantities of HVA and HOB are removed by workers in the queen’s retinue, especially those contacting the queen with their mouthparts. Other workers acquire pheromone components via direct contact with retinue bees or with other workers that have already acquired queen pheromone. HVA and HOB can also reach workers through queen or worker "footprints," although the relatively little material deposited onto the comb wax becomes less available with time, presumably because of diffusion into the wax. Pheromone material is removed from circulation by being internalized into workers, the queen, and the wax. Rates of HVA and HOB transfer between different entities within the nest are described in terms of pseudo first-order rate constants. The intra-nest transfer of these two components, both qualitatively and quantitatively, is similar to that described earlier for the most abundant queen mandibular gland pheromone component, 9-keto-2-(E)-decenoic acid (9-ODA; Naumann et al. 1991). Thus, the queen mandibular gland pheromone complex is transferred through the nest as a unit rather than as individual components moving at different rates.

Identification of an ant queen pheromone regulating worker sterility

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2010.0984 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 277 (1701) ◽

pp. 3793-3800 ◽

Cited By ~ 126

Author(s):

Luke Holman ◽

Charlotte G. Jørgensen ◽

John Nielsen ◽

Patrizia d'Ettorre

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Biology ◽

Cuticular Hydrocarbon ◽

Division Of Labour ◽

Queen Pheromone ◽

Lasius Niger ◽

Strong Response ◽

Selective Forces ◽

The Right ◽

Worker Sterility ◽

Reproductive Division

The selective forces that shape and maintain eusocial societies are an enduring puzzle in evolutionary biology. Ordinarily sterile workers can usually reproduce given the right conditions, so the factors regulating reproductive division of labour may provide insight into why eusociality has persisted over evolutionary time. Queen-produced pheromones that affect worker reproduction have been implicated in diverse taxa, including ants, termites, wasps and possibly mole rats, but to date have only been definitively identified in the honeybee. Using the black garden ant Lasius niger , we isolate the first sterility-regulating ant queen pheromone. The pheromone is a cuticular hydrocarbon that comprises the majority of the chemical profile of queens and their eggs, and also affects worker behaviour, by reducing aggression towards objects bearing the pheromone. We further show that the pheromone elicits a strong response in worker antennae and that its production by queens is selectively reduced following an immune challenge. These results suggest that the pheromone has a central role in colony organization and support the hypothesis that worker sterility represents altruistic self-restraint in response to an honest quality signal.

Radar detection of drones responding to honeybee queen pheromone

Journal of Chemical Ecology ◽

10.1007/bf00983797 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 1929-1938 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

G. M. Loper ◽

W. W. Wolf ◽

O. R. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Queen Pheromone ◽

Radar Detection ◽

Honeybee Queen

Selection on worker honeybee responses to queen pheromone ( Apis mellifera L.)

The Science of Nature ◽

10.1007/s001140050764 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 87 (11) ◽

pp. 487-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

T. Pankiw ◽

Mark L. Winston ◽

Keith N. Slessor ◽

M. Kim Fondrk

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Queen Pheromone

Distribution of Inhibitory Queen Pheromone Among Virgin Queens of an Ant, Solenopsis Invicta

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/1985/71928 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 57-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

A. Ann Sorensen ◽

David J. C. Fletcher ◽

S. Bradleigh Vinson

Keyword(s):

Solenopsis Invicta ◽

Queen Pheromone ◽

Virgin Queens