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The origin of the compounds found on males’ antennae of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.)

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Abstract

Pheromones play an important role in the mating behavior of many insects, especially in bees, and it has recently been shown that female Osmia bicornis use the odor bouquet found on male antennae in female choice. Nevertheless, the glandular origin of the substances found on the male antennae is so far unknown. In this study, we investigated if antennal glands exist in males and if they are the glandular source of substances on the antennae’s cuticle, as has been suggested by previous studies. Since electron and light microscopy revealed no such glands, we investigated further possible places of origin for the antennal compounds by conducting chemical analyses of solvent extracts of the male abdominal surface and the antennae, as well as of two glands found in the bee’s head, the labial and mandibular gland. Our results clearly show that the substances found on the abdominal surface and in solvent extracts of the antennae differ significantly in relative amounts. Therefore, the compounds on the antennae must have additional sources. Since the relative amounts of compounds on the surface of antennae are different from the blends on the mandibular gland or the labial gland, neither one of them can be the sole source of the antennal compounds. Hence we believe another glandular source is also involved in the production of the bouquet on the antennae. Especially interesting were high amounts of sterols on the antennae, which also play a role in population differences. This sheds new light on the importance of the antennal compounds and also the importance sterols might play in communication.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Eberhard Schmid from the Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Ulm University for all his help in preparing the samples used for SEM, TEM and light microscopy. We would also like to thank Dr. Stefan Jarau (PH Voralberg) for help with the microscopy and Dr. Hans G. Rinderknecht (Lawrance Livermore National Laboratory, CA) for language advice. This study was funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation.

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  1. Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 10-1 Containerdorf, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    Taina Conrad & Manfred Ayasse

  2. Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark

    Nanna Hjort Vidkjær

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  1. Taina Conrad
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  2. Nanna Hjort Vidkjær
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Correspondence to Taina Conrad.

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Conrad, T., Vidkjær, N.H. & Ayasse, M. The origin of the compounds found on males’ antennae of the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis (L.). Chemoecology 27, 207–216 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-017-0245-1

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