Behavioral studies have shown that in the polygynous colonies of Solenopsis invicta, the reproductive queens exhibit a dominance hierarchy in terms of worker response, nutrition, and egg production. Characterization of vitellogenin in these colonies showed that vitellogenin was present in inseminated queens, virgin queens, and workers, but not in males. This study was conducted to determine whether there is a difference in the quantity of vitellogenin synthesized by inseminated queens in these colonies. Using SDS-PAGE, a known amount of hemolymph protein from each queen was analyzed for vitellogenin content. Preliminary results showed vitellogenin was more abundant in the dominant queens of polygynous colonies of Solenopsis invicta.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Formicidae Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant)
Keywords: Vitellogenin
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA