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Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers

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Abstract

Cuticular wax, abdominal and cephalic extracts of foraging workers and males of Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana, from the “Aretuzina” farm in São Simão, SP, Brazil, were analyzed by GC-MS. The principal constituents were hydrocarbons, terpenes, aldehydes, esters, steroids, alcohols, and fatty acids. Interspecific differences for both cuticular wax and cephalic extracts were found. The composition of cuticular wax and cephalic extracts was similar at the intraspecific level, with minor component differences between males and workers. Abdominal extracts differentiated sexes (male and worker) at the intraspecific and interspecific levels. The main chemical components in abdominal extracts of N. testaceicornis workers and males were geranylgeranyl acetate and (Z)-9-nonacosene, respectively. The principal components of abdominal extracts from P. droryana workers and males were tetradecanal and unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids), respectively. A secondary alcohol, (S)-2-nonanol, was detected in Plebeia droryana males only, but not in workers. Preliminary field experiments showed that (S)-(+)-2-heptanol and (S)-(+)-2-heptanol/ (S)-(+)-2-nonanol (1:1) attracted workers of P. droryana, N. testaceicornis, and Frieseomelitta silvestrii. However, males did not respond suggesting that these compounds do not function as alarm or recruitment pheromones . In addition, racemic mixtures were inactive.

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Acknowledgments

We thank FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) for scholarships that made the present contribution possible (Adriana Pianaro, Proc. no. 03/09358-3; Cristiano Menezes, Proc. no 07/50218-1) and the Chemistry Institute of UNICAMP for support. We also acknowledge Paulo Nogueira-Neto for providing the stingless bees species and Carol H. Collins (IQ/UNICAMP) for critically revising the manuscript.

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  1. Cristiano Menezes

    Present address: Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo—USP, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Institute, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6154, 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Adriana Pianaro & Anita J. Marsaioli

  2. Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, 38400-902, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Cristiano Menezes & Warwick Estevam Kerr

  3. Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Rodrigo B. Singer

  4. Laboratory of Bees, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Eda Flávia Lotufo R. A. Patricio

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Pianaro, A., Menezes, C., Kerr, W.E. et al. Stingless Bees: Chemical Differences and Potential Functions in Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Plebeia droryana Males and Workers. J Chem Ecol 35, 1117–1128 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9679-4

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