Article
Zoology
Christoph von Beeren, Adrian Brueckner, Philipp O. Hoenle, Bryan Ospina-Jara, Daniel J. C. Kronauer, Nico Bluethgen
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of body size, morphological gestalt, and accuracy in chemical mimicry on host aggression towards ant symbionts. The results showed that CHC mimicry accuracy does not necessarily predict host aggression towards ant guests, and that the body size and morphological gestalt of guests may be important, yet underrated traits shaping the level of host hostility.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Brogan A. Amos, Michael J. Furlong, Diana M. Leemon, Bronwen W. Cribb, R. Andrew Hayes
Summary: This study investigated the effect of rearing environment on the cuticular chemical profile of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida. The findings showed that the rearing environment had significant qualitative and quantitative effects on the detected hydrocarbons in the beetle's cuticles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quentin Rougemont, Barbara Huber, Simon H. Martin, Annabel Whibley, Catalina Estrada, Darha Solano, Robert Orpet, W. Owen McMillan, Brigitte Frerot, Mathieu Joron
Summary: By studying the speciation process of Heliconius butterflies, it is found that wing pattern divergence may play a role in speciation and be associated with hybridization and reproductive isolation.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Luca Pietro Casacci, Francesca Barbero, Piotr Slipinski, Magdalena Witek
Summary: Social parasitism is a unique form of antagonistic interaction where a parasite exploits an entire society instead of an individual. Myrmica karavajevi exemplifies ultimate deception strategies in reaching the highest social status within an ant colony, requiring a combined molecular and behavioral approach for studying host-parasite interactions.
Article
Ecology
Ruth Castillo, Mareike Wurdack, Thomas Pauli, Alexander Keller, Heike Feldhaar, Carlo Polidori, Oliver Niehuis, Thomas Schmitt
Summary: In this study, the researchers analyzed the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of Cerceris and Philanthus wasps and their brood parasites, cuckoo wasps, which mimic the CHC profiles of their hosts. The results showed that hosts that do not preserve their prey have a lower CHC overlap with their parasites compared to prey-preserving hosts. Additionally, the CHC profiles in non-preserving host wasps showed more diversification in females than in males, the sex that is chemically mimicked by brood parasites.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wolfgang Schuehly, Ulrike Riessberger-Galle, Javier Hernandez Lopez
Summary: The study found that bee larvae exposed to pesticides show reduced brood production and a high number of empty brood cells, along with increased numbers of oenocytes. These larvae also display altered CHC profiles and are actively removed by nurse bees via chemical cues.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Xiaoyu Wu, Su Wang, Xianguo Zhao, Jing Wen, Yahong Li, Zhangwu Zhao, Juan Du
Summary: Research shows that the pheromonal state of individual fruit flies can affect themselves, and cuticular hydrocarbons have a regulatory effect on the amount of sleep experienced by fruit flies.
Article
Biology
Clint A. Penick, Majid Ghaninia, Kevin L. Haight, Comzit Opachaloemphan, Hua Yan, Danny Reinberg, Jurgen Liebig
Summary: Brain plasticity in reproductive workers of the ant Harpegnathos saltator is demonstrated to be reversible, allowing significant changes in behavior, physiology, and gene expression even after being reverted back to a non-reproductive status. This reversibility in brain volume changes resembles that found in some long-lived vertebrates, highlighting the unique characteristics of phenotypic plasticity in different species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pierre-Andre Eyer, Jared Salin, Anjel M. Helms, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: This study found differences in the production of royal pheromones between primary reproductives and neotenics in termites, suggesting that neotenics may over-signal their reproductive status with a unique royal blend. Future research should delve deeper into these pressures to provide a more comprehensive understanding of social regulation mechanisms in termites.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hisashi Omura, Taro Noguchi, Shinji Ohta
Summary: The female swallowtail butterfly Papilio polytes exhibits polymorphic mimicry, and males can distinguish mimetic and non-mimetic females through differences in cuticular lipids. The composition of cuticular lipids also differs between mimetic females and their model species, suggesting that the females maintain consistent cuticular lipid profiles regardless of the mimicry type. This feature helps males recognize the correct mating partners.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Marion Cordonnier, Bernard Kaufmann, Laurent Simon, Gilles Escarguel, Nathalie Mondy
Summary: Species and nestmate recognition in social insects mainly relies on cuticular hydrocarbons, which generate colony-specific odor profiles and regulate aggression. Hybrid zones between ant species show well-differentiated hydrocarbon profiles and high interspecific aggression, with hybrids displaying a mixture of parental and unique patterns. Interactions between heterospecific workers vary based on whether they come from sympatric or allopatric areas, emphasizing the complexity of recognition mechanisms and discrimination in hybrids.
Article
Biology
Weizhao Sun, Michelle Ina Lange, Juergen Gadau, Jan Buellesbach
Summary: This study addresses the knowledge gaps in understanding the genetic basis and encoding mechanism of sexual attractiveness. By studying two fatty acid synthase genes in parasitic wasps, the researchers discovered that knocking out these genes significantly reduces the sexual attractiveness of female wasps and decreases male courtship and copulation behavior. The study also reveals a shift in methyl-branching patterns in the female surface pheromonal compounds, which is found to be the main cause for the reduced male mating response. This suggests a potential coding mechanism for sexual attractiveness mediated by specific methyl-branching patterns in complex cuticular hydrocarbon profiles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrian Bruckner
Summary: This article investigates the chemical interactions between the bug Scolopostethus pacificus and its host ant. The study reveals that the bug uses a cocktail of volatile compounds to moderate encounters with its aggressive host, and these compounds have a defensive function. The bug does not feed on the host ant.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Andre Rodrigues de Souza, Wilson Franca, Amanda Prato, Markus J. Rantala, Fabio Santos do Nascimento
Summary: Social wasps can recognize the immunological status of conspecifics through chemical cues and adjust their behavior to minimize infection risk. Activation of the immune system leads to changes in body surface compounds, which allow wasps to identify wounded individuals and avoid physical contact with them, reducing the risk of parasite transmission.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika Fernandes Neves, Thiago dos Santos Montagna, Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti, Sidnei Eduardo Lima-Junior, Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso, William Fernando Antonialli-Junior
Summary: The study found that topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) affects the behavioral development of newly emerged workers in social wasps, resulting in changes in cuticular chemical composition and oocyte length and width in females.