Halictine bees

Smith, B. H., Carlson, R. G. and Frazier, J. (1985). Identification and bioassay of macrocyclic lactone sex pheromone of the halictine bee Lasioglossum zephyrum. 

Bell, W.J. Recognition of Resident and Non-Resident Individuals in Intraspecific Nest Defense of a Primitively Eusocial Halictine Bees. J. Comp. Physiol. 93,195-202 (1974). 

Hefetz, a., G. Bergstrom, and J. Teng5 Species, Individual and Kin Specific Blends in Dufour s Gland Secretions of Halictine Bees. Chemical Evidence. J. Chem. Ecol. 12, 197-208 (1986). 

Batra, S. W. T. (1968) Behavior of some social and solitary halictine bees within their nests a comparative study (Hymenoptera Halictidae). J. Kansas ent. Soc., 41, 120-33. 

Macrocyclic lactones and isopentenyl esters in the Dufour s gland secretion of halictine bees (Hymenoptera Halictidae). 7. Chem. EcoL, 7, 319-31. 

Determining the chemistry of different exudates over a wide range of species, genera, families, and orders provides additional data for the systematist. Mandibular and Dufour s secretions of Andrena are species-specific. Colletid, halictine, and nomiine bees all produce lactones in their Dufour s glands, indicating a common ancestry. 

The Argentine ant Linepithema humile which has invaded Australia and Mediterranean Europe produces a macrolide evidently made from a fatty acid where synthesis begins with 2-methylbutyric acid (Figure 3.39). The Dufour glands of halictine and coUetine bees frequently contain mixtures containing macrocyclic lactones. Colletes bees, for example. 

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