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EFFECTS OF HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA L.) QUEEN MANDIBULAR GLAND PHEROMONE ON FORAGING AND BROOD REARING

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Heather A. Higo ,
Simon J. Colley ,
Mark L. Winston  and
Keith N. Slessor
Heather A. Higo
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
Simon J. Colley
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
Mark L. Winston
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
Keith N. Slessor
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
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Abstract

We investigated the effects of synthetic honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen mandibular gland pheromone on colony foraging and brood rearing. Colonies newly established in the spring showed a significant, dose-dependent increase in the number of foragers gathering pollen, and individual pollen foragers returned to the nest with larger pollen loads. These two effects combined resulted in a doubling of the amount of pollen brought into colonies by foraging bees. Brood rearing also increased, but not significantly. In contrast, large, established colonies showed no effects at their summer population peak. We conclude that queen mandibular pheromone can significantly affect foraging, but its effects depend on colony conditions and environmental factors.

Résumé

Nous avons examiné les effets de la phéromone synthétique de la glande mandibulaire de la reine d’abeille domestique (Apis mellifera L.) sur le butinage et l’élevage des couvains. Dans des colonies nouvellement établies, le nombre de butineuses ramassant du pollen a augmenté d’une façon significative suivant l’augmentation de la dose, et les butineuses retournaient au nid avec de plus grandes charges de pollen. La combinaison de ces deux effets démontre un doublement de la quantité de pollen apporté dans les colonies par les butineuses. L’élevage des couvains a aussi augmenté, mais cette augmentation ne s’avère pas significative. Par contraste, dans les colonies déjà établies, aucun effet significatif a été observé lors du pic de population d’été. Nous concluons donc que la phéromone de la glande mandibulaire peut avoir des effets significatifs sur le butinage, mais ces effets dépendent de la condition des colonies et des facteurs environnementaux.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 124 , Issue 2 , April 1992 , pp. 409 - 418
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1992

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