C-6-5
PHEROMONE COMPONENTS IN THE VENOM OF ASIAN HONEY BEES.
Justin O. Schmidt1, E. David Morgan2, Neil J.Oldham3, Ruth R. Do Nascimento4 and Francesca R.Dani2
1Carl Hayden Bee Res. Ctr., 2000 E. Allan Rd., Tucson, AZ85719, USA.
2Dept. Chem., Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG,UK.
3Dept. Zoology, AMS, University of Reading, Whiteknights,Reading, RG1 5RN, UK.
4Dept. Quimica, Univ. Fed. Alagoas, 57000 Maceio AL, Brazil.
The venom of the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana, contains largeoil droplets within the aqueous secretion. The oil consists of (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol(81.2%), other linear alcohols (7.7%) and linear hydrocarbons (11.1%).Eicosenol is present in over 250 g per insect and is absent, or presentin small quantities, in other parts of the sting apparatus. A comparisonwith A. mellifera showed eicosenol to be absent from the venom andto be associated with the setose area where the more volatile componentsof the alarm pheromone are stored. The giant honey bee, A. dorsata,lacks the alcohol. The function of eicosenol in Asian honey bees is unclear,but it may serve to pheromonally mark stung intruders or to attract foragersto marked floral resources.