Mandibular gland pheromone of black dwarf honeybee, Apis andreniformis Smith, (1858) workers and its olfaction

In honeybees, pheromones play an important role in such recruitment communication. The mandibular gland pheromone of Apis andreniformis foragers were analyzed by GC-MS Saturn Varian 4D, the main compositions were 1-eicosanol (17.89 µg/bee), 1-butyl-3methyl acetate (17.35 µg/bee), dibuthyl phthalate (13.26 µg/bee), nonadecane (11.73), 2-hexyl-1-decanol (5.74 µg/bee), heneicosanol (4.77 µg/bee), eicosane (3.06 µg/bee), 1-octanol (1.08 µg/bee) and 2-propyl-1-heptanol (0.69 µg/bee). The changing membrane potentials of the antennal sensilla of A. andreniformis foragers and guards were measured after exposure to 2-heptanone, (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol, 1-octanol and heneicosanol. The resting membrane potential of A. andreniformis foragers and guards were -56.31±2.54 and -53.51±2.80 mV, respectively. All interactions of caste (foragers and guards), pheromone and concentration had significant effects on membrane potential response, indicating that the response of bee is dependent upon its caste and the type and concentration of pheromone.  These results indicate that caste differences in bee membrane response depend on the concentration of specific pheromones, limiting generalizations about bee physiological response to biologically relevant pheromones.