Abstract
THE mandibular gland secretion of the worker honeybee, Apis mellifera L., contains 10-hydroxy-Δ2-decenoic acid1 and, at least in older workers (foragers), 2-heptanone2. Maschwitz3 reported that the secretion of this gland evoked an aggressive reaction from bees at the entrance of their hive, and Shearer and Boch2 obtained a similar reaction with 2-heptanone. Simpson4 found that the mandibular gland secretion, which has a strong but fugitive smell, repels foraging honeybees when added to a dish of sucrose syrup. I have shown that 10-hydroxy-decenoic acid does not repel foraging honeybees but that 2-heptanone does.
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References
Callow, R. K., Johnston, N. C., and Simpson, J., Experientia, 15, 421 (1959).
Shearer, D. A., and Boch, R., Nature, 206, 530 (1965).
Maschwitz, U., Z. Vergl. Physiol., 47, 596 (1964).
Simpson, J., Nature, 209, 531 (1966).
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BUTLER, C. Mandibular Gland Pheromone of Worker Honeybees. Nature 212, 530 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/212530a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/212530a0
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