Comparison of Age-dependent Quantitative Changes in the Male Labial Gland Secretion of Bombus Terrestris and Bombus Lucorum
2009
Abstract
Quantity of components of the labial gland secretion of bumblebees changes significantly during the lifetime of males. Six compounds in B. terrestris and 9 components in B. lucorum elicited antennal responses of virgin queens.
In both species, concentrations of active compounds reached their maximum (milligrams) on seventh day after eclosion. Subsequently, a rapid decrease in the amounts of active compounds occurred in B. terrestris, whereas in B. lucorum the amounts stayed approximately constant or decreased at a slow rate.