Task-related chemical analysis of labial gland volatile secretion in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica).
Chemical analyses revealed that the labial gland complex of worker honeybees possesses a series of hydrocarbons dominated by odd-numbered carbon chain alkanes along with minor amounts of alkenes and branched alkanes. Foragers contained significantly more secretion than nurse bees. Experiments with bees from colonies induced to have a division of labor independent of age revealed that the differences in the amount of secretion were task, but not age dependent.
Katzav-Gozansky
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T
Department of Zoology, George S. Wise  Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. katzavt@post.tau.ac.il
Soroker
V
V
Ionescu
A
A
Robinson
G E
GE
Hefetz
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D014835:Volatilization
D006838:Hydrocarbons