Mandibular pheromone, queen

Apis mellifera Q-MG Delays worker foraging ontogeny reduces tbeir hemolymph JH titre (2E)-9-Oxodec-2-enoic acid 52, (2 E)-9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid (71% (R)-(-)) 53, methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate 54, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanol 55 (collectively called queen mandibular pheromone QMP ) [138]... 

The repertoire of chemicals that can be used for communication is limited by the biosynthetic ability of the insect. Compared to other insect orders, pheromone biosynthesis in Hymenoptera has received little study [191]. However, the biosynthetic origins of chemically diverse hymenopteran semiochemicals likely include aromatic, fatty acid, and terpenoid pathways as well as simple modifications of host-derived precursors. Notable recent studies include the biosynthesis of the fatty acid components (2 )-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid 52 and (2 )-9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid of the honeybee queen mandibular pheromone from octadecanoic acid [192,193], and the aliphatic alcohol and ester... 

Despite the importance of such pheromones for the understanding of insect sociality, very little is yet known about them (Le Conte and Hefetz, 2008). So far, in only one species (i.e. the honeybee), has it been shown that a pheromone emitted by a reproductive prevents worker reproduction. In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, it has been suggested that the queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) causes worker ovarian inhibition (Butler and Fairey, 1963). 

Figure 2 Components of the queen mandibular pheromone of the honey bee.

The best understood of the sexual pheromones of social insects is the queen substance of honeybees. Interestingly, the queen substance used for queen control inside the nest is also the substance used by virgin queens to attract drones for mating. Callow and Johnston (1960) and Barbier and Lederer (1960) identified 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid ([E]-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid) (9-ODA) as major components of the queen mandibular glands. 9-Hydroxy-2(E)-decenoic acid is also present (Callow et al., 1964) and together both attract drones. Additional components of the queen retinue pheromone have recently been identified (Keeling et al., 2003). 

Figure 11.2 Biosynthetic pathways leading to honeybee worker and queen mandibular gland pheromones. Reprinted with permission from Plettner E., et al. (1966), 1966 American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Within mixtures of natural products, interactions are the norm rather than the exception and Nature seems to have known very well that there can be strength in numbers and that there are not only active compounds but also supportive ancillary constituents. Thus, the response of the mammalian immune system to a stimulus depends on the concerted effect of a host of cytokines and not on the activity of just one, while the mandibular pheromone of the queen honey bee is a mixture of nine compounds, all required to elicit its multiple action on worker bees and drones.54... 

Willis, L.G., Winston, M.L. and Slessor, K.N. (1990). Queen honey bee mandibular pheromone does not affect worker ovary development Can. Entomol. 122,1093-1099. 

Among the social Hymenoptera, one of the best-understood examples is the sex pheromone used by the queen honeybee to attract drones for mating. This pheromone is produced in the mandibular gland that resides in the head capsule (Barbier and Lederer, 1960 Callow and Johnson, 1960 Callow et al., 1964). In... 

ROseler, P. F ROseler, I. and Vanhonk, C. G. J. (1981). Evidence for inhibition of corpora allata activity in workers of Bombus terrestris by a pheromone from the queen s mandibular glands. Experientia, 37, 348-351. 

Sex Pheromones. Gary (137) demonstrated that (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid, a mandibular gland product of the queen honey... 

Queen substance originally a term for the entire mandibular gland secretion of the queen bee, which contains about 30 substances. It is now the trivial name for 9-oxo-trans-2-decenoic acid. This compound, together with 9-hydroxy-(ranr-2-decenoic acid, is very important as a pheromone for the maintenance of the division of labor within the hive. In the course of caring for the young, the worker bees lick the pheromone mixture off the queen. This causes their ovaries to shrink, and they are inhibited from building queen cells. Larvae in queen cells are not fed honey, but royal jelly, a mixture of pollen and secretions, which does not contain Q. Roy jelly is recommended as a health product, but its effeetiveness is disputed. 

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