Differential Pheromone Secretion By Female Castes In Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

The queen and worker caste of the honey bee exemplified the polyphenism phenomenon. In specific female caste, diversification of the same genomic (2n=32) expression ultimately induces plasticity in development, morphology, physiology, reproduction, division of labour, immunity, and life span. Physiological plasticity is remarkably highlighted through glandular secretion variation in female castes, as pheromonal queen glands ensure her reproductive monopoly and dominant hierarchy in the colony. In contrast, in workers, pheromonal profiling facilitates foraging, nursing, alarming, colony protection, pseudo-queen formation inhibition, and other social interactions. Queen's volatile bouquet emission contains biochemicals like 9-ODA, OLA, HVA, 9-HDA, 10-HDA, HOB, 10-HDAA, cetyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, linolenic acid, methyl oleate, and decyl decanoate. In contrast, workers' pheromones include predominantly; isopentyl acetate (IPA), butyl acetate, 1-hexanol, n-butanol, 1- octanol, hexyl acetate, octyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, and 2-nonanol, (Z)-11-eicosenol, 2-heptanone, geraniol, geranial, geranic acid, (E)-citral, nerolic acid, etc. Queen and workers secrete different pheromones following their role in the colony. This chapter provides insights into differential pheromonal secretion in queen and worker caste within the honey bee colony. The biochemical synthesis of pheromonal contents in both castes is elaborated on in the next chapter<br>