The cephalic labial gland secretions of two socially parasitic bumblebees Bombus hyperboreus (Alpinobombus) and Bombus inexspectatus (Thoracobombus) question their inquiline strategy

Social parasitic Hymenopterans have evolved morphological, chemical, and behavioral adaptations to overcome the sophisticated recognition and defense systems of their social host to invade host nests and exploit their worker force. In bumblebees, so- cial parasitism appeared in at least 3 subgenera...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insect Science
Main Authors: Brasero, Nicolas, Martinet, Baptiste, Lecocq, Thomas, Lhomme, Patrick, Valterova, Irena, Urbanova, Kla ́ra, Hines, Heather, Rasmont, Pierre, BIELLA, PAOLO, CORNALBA, MAURIZIO DUILIO
Other Authors: Brasero, Nicola, Lecocq, Thoma, Biella, Paolo, Cornalba, MAURIZIO DUILIO
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
bumblebees
cephalic labial gland secretions
inquiline strategy
social parasitism
ALPINOBOMBUS
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11571/1172632
https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.12408
Description
Summary:Social parasitic Hymenopterans have evolved morphological, chemical, and behavioral adaptations to overcome the sophisticated recognition and defense systems of their social host to invade host nests and exploit their worker force. In bumblebees, so- cial parasitism appeared in at least 3 subgenera independently: in the subgenus Psithyrus consisting entirely of parasitic species, in the subgenus Alpinobombus with Bombus hy- perboreus, and in the subgenus Thoracobombus with B. inexspectatus. Cuckoo bumblebee males utilize species-specific cephalic labial gland secretions for mating purposes that can impact their inquiline strategy. We performed cephalic labial gland secretions in B. hyperboreus, B. inexspectatus and their hosts. Males of both parasitic species exhibited high species specific levels of cephalic gland secretions, including different main com- pounds. Our results showed no chemical mimicry in the cephalic gland secretions between inquilines and their host and we did not identify the repellent compounds already known in other cuckoo bumblebees.

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