社交昆虫群体中的交流取决于准确反映个体身份和生理状态的信号。这些信息是由多个外分泌腺的产物编码的,所得的混合物反映了物种,性别,种姓,年龄,任务,生殖状态,和个人的健康,还可能含有种姓特异性信息素,调节其他个体的行为和生理。在这里,我们检查了大黄蜂Bombusimpatiens雌性的唇腺分泌物的组成,不同的种姓,社会条件,年龄,交配状态,和卵巢激活。我们展示了活跃的女王,gynes,每个工人都生产特定于种姓的化合物,这些化合物可能具有不同的交流功能。蜡酯的组成和用量,主要是活跃女王生产的辛酯,种姓之间差异显著,交配,和社会条件,暗示社会信号作用。法尼酯在妇科中占主导地位,并在最佳交配年龄(6-10天)达到顶峰,暗示它们作为性信息素成分的可能作用。短链和长链烃的比例反映了女性的生殖状况和不同种姓的年龄,这表明这些化合物可以作为生育信号。我们的发现总体上表明,凤仙花芽孢杆菌的唇腺成分反映了女性生理的不同方面。虽然需要进一步的生物测定来确定这些化合物的功能,他们可能在个人之间的沟通中发挥重要作用。
Communication in social insect colonies depends on signals accurately reflecting the identity and physiological state of the individuals. Such information is coded by the products of multiple exocrine glands, and the resulting blends reflect the species, sex, caste, age, task, reproductive status, and health of an individual, and may also contain caste-specific pheromones regulating the behavior and physiology of other individuals. Here we examined the composition of labial gland secretions in females of the bumble bee Bombus impatiens, of different castes, social condition, age, mating status, and ovarian activation. We show that active queens, gynes, and workers each produce caste-specific compounds that may serve different communicative functions. The composition and amounts of wax esters, mostly octyl esters produced by active queens, differed significantly between castes, mating, and social conditions, suggesting a social signaling role. Farnesyl esters were predominant in gynes and peaked at optimal mating age (6-10 days), suggesting their possible roles as sex pheromone components. Reproductive status of females and age across castes was reflected by the ratio between short- and long-chain hydrocarbons, suggesting that these compounds may serve as fertility signals. Our findings overall suggest that the labial gland composition in B. impatiens reflects different facets of female physiology. While further bioassays are required to determine the functions of these compounds, they are likely to have important roles in communication between individuals.