ARE THERE PHEROMONAL DOMINANCE SIGNALS IN THE BUMBLEBEE BOMBUS-HYPNORUM L (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

In the bumblebee Bombus hypnorum (Apidae) 132 chemical compounds could be identified by GC/MS and coinjection. The behavior of individual workers was observed to characterize them as dominant, subordinate or foragers. Queens, dominance groups of workers and newly emerged workers showed significant differences in both the amounts and proportions of volatiles, in the status of the ovaries, in the size of the fat body, and in the body size.