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Nest plundering allomones of the fire beeTrigona (Oxytrigona) mellicolor

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Abstract

Ten volatile compounds derived from the cephalic glands of the fire beeTrigona (Oxytrigona)mellicolor were bioassayed for possible allomonal activities facilitating nest plundering. Two diketones, (E)-3-heptene-2,5-dione and (E)-3-nonene-2,5-dione, caused the honeybeeApis mellifera to display avoidance behavior and reduced defensive behavior. These diketones are produced in relatively large quantities in fire-bee cephalic glands.

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References

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Z. Bian

    Present address: Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science, Peking, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Honey-Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Road, 70820, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    T. E. Rinderer & R. G. Danka

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, Georgia

    M. S. Blum & D. F. Howard

  3. Laboratory of Chemistry, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 20892, Bethesda, Maryland

    H. M. Fales & Z. Bian

  4. Department of Chemistry, College of William and Mary, 23185, Williamsburg, Virginia

    T. H. Jones

  5. Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University, 70803, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    S. M. Buco & V. A. Lancaster

Authors
  1. T. E. Rinderer
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  2. M. S. Blum
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  3. H. M. Fales
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  4. Z. Bian
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  5. T. H. Jones
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  6. S. M. Buco
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  7. V. A. Lancaster
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  8. R. G. Danka
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  9. D. F. Howard
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Additional information

In cooperation with the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803.

FormerlyTrigona (Oxytrigona)tataira mellicolor (Roubik et al., 1987).

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Rinderer, T.E., Blum, M.S., Fales, H.M. et al. Nest plundering allomones of the fire beeTrigona (Oxytrigona) mellicolor . J Chem Ecol 14, 495–501 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01013901

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01013901

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