Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Social insects are well known for their high level of cooperation. Workers of the primitively eusocial bumblebee Bombus terrestris are able to produce male offspring in the presence of a queen. Nonetheless, they only compete for reproduction, in the so-called competition phase, when the workforce is...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150599 |
| _version_ | 1818505439464128512 |
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| author | Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann Stefan Schulz Manfred Ayasse |
| author_facet | Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann Stefan Schulz Manfred Ayasse |
| author_sort | Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Social insects are well known for their high level of cooperation. Workers of the primitively eusocial bumblebee Bombus terrestris are able to produce male offspring in the presence of a queen. Nonetheless, they only compete for reproduction, in the so-called competition phase, when the workforce is large enough to support the rearing of reproductives. So far, little is known about the proximate mechanisms underlying the shift between altruism and selfish behaviour in bumblebee workers. In this study, we have examined the influence of chemical cues from the nest wax on the onset of worker reproduction. Chemical analyses of wax extracts have revealed that the patterns and amounts of cuticular lipids change considerably during colony development. These changes in wax scent mirror worker abundance and the presence of fertile workers. In bioassays with queen-right worker groups, wax affects the dominance behaviour and ovarian development of workers. When exposed to wax from a colony in competition phase, workers start to compete for reproduction. We suggest that wax scent enables workers to time their reproduction by providing essential information concerning the social condition of the colony. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:50:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5dcbe9e31a6d468c8f00b8751eff46ae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:50:48Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-5dcbe9e31a6d468c8f00b8751eff46ae2022-12-22T01:32:13ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032016-01-013110.1098/rsos.150599150599Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestrisAnn-Marie Rottler-HoermannStefan SchulzManfred AyasseSocial insects are well known for their high level of cooperation. Workers of the primitively eusocial bumblebee Bombus terrestris are able to produce male offspring in the presence of a queen. Nonetheless, they only compete for reproduction, in the so-called competition phase, when the workforce is large enough to support the rearing of reproductives. So far, little is known about the proximate mechanisms underlying the shift between altruism and selfish behaviour in bumblebee workers. In this study, we have examined the influence of chemical cues from the nest wax on the onset of worker reproduction. Chemical analyses of wax extracts have revealed that the patterns and amounts of cuticular lipids change considerably during colony development. These changes in wax scent mirror worker abundance and the presence of fertile workers. In bioassays with queen-right worker groups, wax affects the dominance behaviour and ovarian development of workers. When exposed to wax from a colony in competition phase, workers start to compete for reproduction. We suggest that wax scent enables workers to time their reproduction by providing essential information concerning the social condition of the colony.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150599conflict over male productioncuticular lipidnest environmentsocial insectwax scent |
| spellingShingle | Ann-Marie Rottler-Hoermann Stefan Schulz Manfred Ayasse Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris Royal Society Open Science conflict over male production cuticular lipid nest environment social insect wax scent |
| title | Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris |
| title_full | Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris |
| title_fullStr | Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris |
| title_short | Nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris |
| title_sort | nest wax triggers worker reproduction in the bumblebee bombus terrestris |
| topic | conflict over male production cuticular lipid nest environment social insect wax scent |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.150599 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annmarierottlerhoermann nestwaxtriggersworkerreproductioninthebumblebeebombusterrestris AT stefanschulz nestwaxtriggersworkerreproductioninthebumblebeebombusterrestris AT manfredayasse nestwaxtriggersworkerreproductioninthebumblebeebombusterrestris |