Juvenile hormone and caste determination in a stingless bee

1975 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. de Oliveira Campos ◽  
F. M. Velthuis-Kluppell ◽  
H. H. W. Velthuis
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Stingless Bee ◽  
Caste Determination

scholarly journals Effect of Larval Topical Application of Juvenile Hormone on Cuticular Chemical Composition of Mischocyttarus consimilis (Vespidae: Polistinae) Females

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Erika Fernandes Neves ◽  
Thiago Santos Montagna ◽  
Luiz Carlos Santos Junior ◽  
Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti ◽  
Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Topical Application ◽  
Larval Instar ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Caste Determination ◽  
Chemical Profile ◽  
Main Determinant ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

Juvenile  Hormone  (JH)  is  considered  the  main  determinant  of  caste  in  social insects, though little is known about how this hormone acts in social wasps, especially the independent-founding species. The known relationship between JH titer and caste in the colony and we suggest a relationship among the effects of JH and the cuticular chemical profile. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that topical application of JH to larvae of different instars alters the cuticular chemical composition of newly emerged females of Mischocyttarus consimilis (Zikán), influencing the dynamics of colony. Two techniques were used to evaluate the variation in cuticular chemical composition: Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Indeed, the application of JH did significantly alter the cuticular chemical composition of adult females that received treatment at the larval stage in comparison to control. The effects of JH were instar-dependent in that the results of topical application were significant when performed at third larval instar. Overall, these results add evidence that caste determination may, at least in part may be pre-imaginal in species of independent-founding social wasps.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity in an ant with strong caste–genotype association

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 20170705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Kuhn ◽  
Hugo Darras ◽  
Serge Aron
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Caste Determination ◽  
Developmental Pathway ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Social Hymenoptera ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Genetically Determined

Caste determination in social Hymenoptera (whether a female egg develops into a reproductive queen or a sterile worker) is a remarkable example of phenotypic plasticity where females with highly similar genomes exhibit striking differences in morphology and behaviour. This phenotypic dichotomy is typically influenced by environmental factors. However, recent studies have revealed a strong caste–genotype association in hybridogenetic ants: workers are all interlineage hybrids while queens are all purebred, suggesting that female caste fate is genetically determined. Using the hybridogenetic ant Cataglyphis mauritanica , we show that under laboratory conditions, purebred offspring develop into reproductive queens but occasionally give rise to workers. Moreover, while hybrids typically become workers, juvenile hormone treatment can switch their developmental pathway to the reproductive caste. These results indicate that phenotypic plasticity has been retained in an ant with a strong caste–genotype association, despite its lack of expression in natural conditions.

scholarly journals SEX DETERMINATION IN BEES. IV. GENETIC CONTROL OF JUVENILE HORMONE PRODUCTION IN MELIPONA QUADRIFASCIATA (APIDAE)

Genetics ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-756
Author(s):  
Warwick Estevam Kerr ◽  
Yukio Akahira ◽  
Conceição A Camargo
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Cell Number ◽  
Corpus Allatum ◽  
Corpora Allata ◽  
Caste Determination ◽  
Prepupal Stage ◽  
Hormone Production ◽  
Melipona Quadrifasciata ◽  
Phases Of Development

ABSTRACT Cell number and volume of corpora allata was determined for 8 phases of development, the first prepupal stage to adults 30 days old, in the social Apidae Melipona quadrifasciata. In the second prepupal stage a strong correlation was found between cell number and body weight (r=0.651**), and cell number and corpora allata volume in prepupal stage (r=0.535*), which indicates that juvenile hormone has a definite role in caste determination in Melipona. The distribution of the volume of corpus allatum suggest a 3:1 segregation between bees with high volume of corpora allata against low and medium volume. This implies that genes xa and xb code for an enzyme that directly participates in juvenile hormone production. It was also concluded that the number of cells in the second prepupal stage is more important than the weight of the prepupa for caste determination. A scheme summarizing the genic control of sex and caste determination in Melipona bees in the prepupal phase is given.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document