AGE-RELATED PATTERNS OF VOLATILE CEPHALIC CONSTITUENTS IN QUEENS OF THE NEOTROPICAL STINGLESS BEE SCAPTOTRIGONA-POSTICA LATR (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

In heads of queens of the neotropical stingless bee Scaptotrigona postica identification and quantification of 68 volatile compounds was carried out by individual GC/MS analysis. Hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, carboxylic acids, methylketones and lactones were found in distinct ontogenetic patterns. In all young queens secondary alcohols constitute 60-80% of the cephalic secretions. In receptive virgins 10-12 d after emergence the odour pattern contains almost-equal-to 7% methylketones. Only in recently mated queens at the age of 12-14 d did the amount of unsaturated butyrates reach almost-equal-to 20%. In old egg-laying queens carboxylic acids (> 80%) are the main components, while Z-9-tricosene forms the major component in the neutral fraction. The presumable functions of the queen pheromone in stingless bees have been discussed in relation to reproductive biology and colony cycle.