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EVIDENCE FOR A QUEEN PHEROMONE IN VESPULA (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Roger D. Akre
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164
Hal C. Reed
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164

Abstract

Yellowjacket colonies were manipulated to test for a possible pheromone emitted by the queen that suppresses worker ovarian development. When queenless and queen-right groups of yellowjacket workers were periodically switched to different sides of a vertically divided nestbox, worker reproduction was partially inhibited. It is suggested that the queen may deposit an inhibitory pheromone on the comb, and workers encounter this queen pheromone during their various colony tasks.

Résumé

Des colonies de guêpe jaune ont été manipulées afin de vérifier l'existence d'une phéromone émise par la reine et qui empêcherait le développement ovarien chez les travailleuses. Le transfert périodique de travailleuses avec ou sans reine de part et d'autre d'une paroi verticale divisant le nid, a causé une inhibition partielle de la reproduction chez les travailleuses. L'auteur suggère que la reine dépose une phéromone inhibitrice sur les rayons, avec laquelle les travailleuses entrent en contact au cours de leurs diverses tâches dans la colonie.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1983

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