Citral in stingles bees: Isolation and functions in trail-laying and robbing

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 16; no. 8; pp. 1637 - 1648
• Main Authors: Blum, M.S., Crewe, R.M., Kerr, W.E., Keith, L.H., Garrison, A.W., Walker, M.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1970
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1910(70)90263-5

The mandibular gland secretion of workers of the stingless bee Trigona subterranea is dominated by geranial and neral, the two stereoisomers of citral. This terpene is a powerful attractant for workers of T. subterranea and is the primary trail-following compound utilized by this species. Workers are either repelled or they exhibit attack and alarm behaviour in the presence of very high concentrations of citral. Citral is also produced by the robbing bee Lestrimelitta limao. Workers of Melipona and Trigona species, which are normally robbed by L. limao, appear to be completely disoriented by high concentrations of citral. The behaviour of species of bees which are not attacked by L. limao is not drastically altered in the presence of this terpene aldehyde. Citral is identified as the probable key factor responsible for the successful robbing activities of L. limao workers. The rôle of exocrine products which are employed as allomones by robbing bees and ants is discussed.