title: Chemistry of the cephalic labial gland secretions of male Bombus morrisoni and B. rufocinctus, two North American bumblebee males with perching behavior.
abstract: The labial gland secretions from males of the North American bumblebees Bombus morrisoni Cresson and B. rufocinctus Cresson were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In both species, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,6,10,14-hexadecatetraenyl acetate was found as the major compound of a complex mixture of alkenols, acetates, hydrocarbons, and wax-type esters. In addition to a mixture of saturated and mono-unsaturated straight chain hydrocarbons, the labial gland of both species contained the isoprenoid hydrocarbons (6E, 10E)-3,7,15-trimethyl-3-methylene-hexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene [beta-springene], three isomers of 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadeca-1,3,6,10,14-pentaene [alpha-springene], and two further unidentified cyclic diterpenes. In B. morrisoni, 3,7,11-trimethyl-2,6,10-dodecatrien-1-ol and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-6,10,14-hexadecatrien-1-ol were detected as characteristic alcohols, as well as small amounts of 9-hexadecenol and hexadecanol. Furthermore, a large peak of hexadecyl dodecanoate and minor amounts of 9-hexadecenyl, 9-octadecenyl, and eicosenyl 9-tetradecenoate were found as typical esters in this species. In B. rufocinctus, 9-hexadecenol, hexadecanol, and 9-octadecenol were present in considerable amounts, with their acetates and 9-tetradecenoic, tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, and 11-octadecenoic acids. The chemical composition of cephalic labial glands in male bumblebees with perching behavior is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertsch
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schweer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Titze