Cuticular lipid profiles of fertile and non-fertile Cardiocondyla ant queens

Will, Stefanie and Delabie, Jacques H. C. and Heinze, Juergen and Ruther, Joachim and Oettler, Jan (2012) Cuticular lipid profiles of fertile and non-fertile Cardiocondyla ant queens. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, 58 (9). pp. 1245-1249. ISSN 0022-1910,

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Abstract

Both mating and reproduction strongly affect the physiology of insect females. In the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior, a comparison among virgin queens, mated queens, and queens mated with sterilized males ("sham-mated") allows to separate the different effects of mating and egg laying. Here, we investigate whether and how different mating status is reflected in the cuticular lipid profiles of queens, i.e., the blend of chemicals that is thought to signal a queen's fertility. Surprisingly, discriminant analyses failed to reliably distinguish among virgin, mated, and sham-mated queens. A generalized linear model on individual substances showed only very subtle differences. While mating appeared to be positively associated with the proportions of 3-MeC25, 11-/13-MeC27, 5-MeC27, 3-MeC27, and 12-/14-MeC28 and negatively with C-27:1, fecundity was negatively associated with C-29:1, C-31:1, and a sterol derivative. We discuss these results in the light of the special life history of C. obscurior, with completely sterile workers and low egg laying rates in queens. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: HYDROCARBON PROFILE; SOCIAL INSECTS; PHEROMONES; SEX; COOPERATION; OBSCURIOR; EVOLUTION; SIGNAL; AGE; Cuticular hydrocarbons; Queen pheromone; Fertility signal; Mating; Formicidae
Subjects: 500 Science > 590 Zoological sciences
Divisions: Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Chemische Ökologie (Prof. Dr. Joachim Ruther)
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 06 May 2020 08:29
Last Modified: 06 May 2020 08:29
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/18182

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