Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helena Mendes Ferreira, Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Fabio Santos do Nascimento, Tom Wenseleers, Cintia Akemi Oi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of juvenile hormone on reproduction in two primitive eusocial wasp species and its regulation of reproductive traits and chemical cues. The results show that hormone treatments significantly affect egg laying and the production of specific chemical signals.
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
Silu Lin, Jana Werle, Judith Korb
Summary: The study identifies a module of coexpressed genes in termite queens enriched for pathways related to fecundity, juvenile hormone signaling, and chemical communication. The results provide molecular evidence linking social communication with the observed longevity and fecundity in termite queens compared to workers.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Amanda Prato, Rafael C. da Silva, Diego S. Assis, Sidnei Mateus, Klaus Hartfelder, Fabio S. do Nascimento
Summary: In Polybia occidentalis, juvenile hormone (JH) levels influence division of labor, ovary activation, and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of workers. The study confirmed that JH analog and JH biosynthesis inhibitor affected the cuticular chemical profile related to age polyethism, and influenced ovarian activation differently. These results suggest that JH plays a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion among workers in the colony.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Huanyu Du, Runting Ge, Ling Zhang, Jiangyan Zhang, Keping Chen, Chengjun Li
Summary: In this study, we used RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis to identify differentially expressed transcripts in Tribolium castaneum during different developmental stages. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that genes related to DNA replication, cell cycle, and insect hormone biosynthesis were significantly enriched. The transcription of DNA replication and cell cycle genes decreased after hatching but increased after pupation. The study also showed that silencing the ecdysteroid degradation gene CYP18A1 resulted in developmental arrest at the late larval stage. Overall, this research contributes to our understanding of insect growth and development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Dong, Wen-Jun Wu, Chen-Yang Song, Ting Li, Jian-Zhen Zhang
Summary: The effects of Jinggangmycin (JGM) on the physiological parameters of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated in this study. The results showed that exposure to 0.005 g/ml JGM increased female daily egg production and extended the oviposition period, while there was no significant effect on reproduction at 0.016 g/ml. Flies fed 0.005 g/ml JGM exhibited increased desiccation tolerance. The upregulated expression of FAS1 and FAS3, as well as the accumulation of CHCs on the cuticle surface, were observed in JGM treated flies at 0.005 g/ml. Moreover, knockdown of FAS3 decreased desiccation tolerance in JGM-treated flies.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cintia Akemi Oi, Helena Mendes Ferreira, Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Andreas Bienstman, Fabio Santos do Nascimento, Tom Wenseleers
Summary: The study revealed that worker wasps are influenced by juvenile hormone, producing fertility-linked compounds and increasing oocyte size. These findings support the hypothesis that juvenile hormone controls fertility and fertility signaling in worker wasps.
Article
Zoology
Cintia Akemi Oi, Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Ian Stevens, Helena Mendes Ferreira, Fabio Santos Nascimento, Tom Wenseleers, Alessandro Cini
Summary: The study demonstrates that reproduction and the production of certain cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) cues in social insects, specifically primitively eusocial wasps, are under joint juvenile hormone (JH) control, with ovary development influencing CHC profiles. Pleiotropic links between reproduction and CHC cues production have likely been key for the evolution of fertility and queen signals in more advanced eusocial insects.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jeremy S. Davis, Matthew J. Pearcy, Joanne Y. Yew, Leonie C. Moyle
Summary: Rapid evolution of sensory signals may contribute to reproductive isolation between species, as demonstrated in Drosophila americana and D. novamexicana populations where sexual isolation is driven by divergence in chemical signals, particularly cuticular hydrocarbons. Differences in courtship efficiency and CHC profiles, mainly based on compound carbon chain-length, play a key role in sexual isolation, with a specific gene expression pattern potentially contributing to these differences.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jeremy S. Davis, Matthew J. Pearcy, Joanne Y. Yew, Leonie C. Moyle
Summary: The study demonstrates sexual isolation due to divergence in chemical signals and dissects its underlying phenotypic and genetic mechanisms. Strong sexual isolation was found between D. novamexicana males and SC D. americana females, with more moderate bi-directional isolation between D. americana populations. The data suggest an evolutionary model for the origin and spread of this allele and its consequences for CHC divergence and sexual isolation.
Article
Physiology
Daniela Dantas David, Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro de Assis, Maria Nathalia Moraes, Flavia Pinheiro Zanotto, Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci
Summary: This study investigated the diurnal rhythm of hormone and gene expression in the molt cycle of Callinectes sapidus and found that melatonin had a remarkable influence on the molt cycle of the crabs.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sylvie P. Vandenabeele, Thomas Schmitt
Summary: Research has shown that visual cues alone cannot fully explain the ability of solitary bees and wasps to locate their nests. Olfaction is also important in nest recognition. Chemical analysis of nest entrances and their occupants revealed a close match in the identified chemicals. Removal of these chemicals elicited a clear behavioral response in bees. This highlights the significance of olfactory cues in complementing visual orientation for precise homing in solitary species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Konrad Sebastian Frahnert, Karsten Seidelmann
Summary: Osmia cornuta is a solitary mason bee that utilizes natural existing cavities for nest construction, with females using a combination of visual and olfactory cues to recognize their own nest. The scent tags used by the bees are a mixture of body-derived substances enriched by external components, allowing for distinguishable but not perfectly matched individual odor bouquets. These scent tags, dominated by alkanes and alkenes, provide information not only on nest occupancy but also on species affiliation and constitution of the nest owner.
Article
Ecology
Antonio Serrato-Capuchina, Timothy D. Schwochert, Stephania Zhang, Baylee Roy, David Peede, Caleigh Koppelman, Daniel R. Matute
Summary: Introgression, the exchange of alleles between species through fertile hybrids, is a common event in nature. This study shows that F1 hybrids between two species pairs of Drosophila have reduced sexual attractiveness and are strongly discriminated against by pure species. The cuticular hydrocarbon profile of female hybrids is intermediate between the parental species and modifying it to resemble pure species improves their mating chances.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yucui Xin, Nan Chen, Yawei Wang, Ruoyao Ni, Hongrui Zhao, Peiqi Yang, Mei Li, Xinghui Qiu
Summary: In this study, the roles of five CYP4G genes in CHC biosynthesis in cotton bollworms were investigated. The findings indicate that CYP4G8 plays an essential role in CHC biosynthesis, while the functions of the other four CYP4G genes remain unclear. Knocking out CYP4G8 affected global gene expression in larvae, especially down-regulating genes in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Entomology
Christiane Courant, Gudrun Koeniger, Klaus Hartfelder
Summary: Apidologie has established itself as a journal reporting high-quality scientific research on the biology of bees, with a focus not only on the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The origins of the journal can be traced back to a conversation between two prominent scientists 50 years ago, who discussed the possibility of creating an international bee research journal by merging their respective publications.
Article
Entomology
Tianfei Peng, Jeferson Pedrosa, Jaqueline Eterna Batista, Fabio S. Nascimento, Christoph Grueter
Summary: The tropical stingless bees have evolved complex communication systems to recruit nestmates to food locations, with some species able to accurately communicate location but not distance. Recent research indicates that Plebeia droryana can recruit nestmates to specific food sources, but without using social cues from conspecifics. The potential mechanism for this recruitment behavior remains unknown and requires further study.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
A. Morales, K. Hartfelder, S. Medina-Peralta, J. J. G. Quezada-Euan
Summary: This study provides empirical evidence that the amount of larval food significantly affects the development time, body size, and reproductive fitness traits of gynes in stingless bees. It is an initial step towards understanding the adaptive significance and ultimate causes of gyne size variation in highly eusocial bees.
Article
Entomology
S. M. Glaser, R. M. Feitosa, A. Koch, N. Goss, F. S. do Nascimento, C. Grueter
Summary: Tropical ants face intense intra- and interspecific competition for food sources, with recruitment communication helping colonies monopolize and exploit resources successfully. Mass-recruiting competitors are often successful in displacing focal colonies, but when foragers are able to recruit nestmates, they have a higher probability of retaining access to food sources. Competition is more intense after sunset, but an increase in activity post-sunset allows focal colonies to exploit food sources more successfully.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alice Seguret, Eckart Stolle, Fernando A. Fleites-Ayil, Jose Javier G. Quezada-Euan, Klaus Hartfelder, Karen Meusemann, Mark C. Harrison, Antonella Soro, Robert J. Paxton
Summary: Eusocial insect queens exhibit remarkable ability to maximize fecundity and longevity, challenging the typical trade-off between these two traits. The molecular mechanisms underlying the remodeling of this trade-off in eusocial insects remain a challenge, with studies on socially polymorphic orchid bees providing insights into the role of sociality in longevity.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Amanda Prato, Rafael C. da Silva, Diego S. Assis, Sidnei Mateus, Klaus Hartfelder, Fabio S. do Nascimento
Summary: In Polybia occidentalis, juvenile hormone (JH) levels influence division of labor, ovary activation, and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of workers. The study confirmed that JH analog and JH biosynthesis inhibitor affected the cuticular chemical profile related to age polyethism, and influenced ovarian activation differently. These results suggest that JH plays a crucial role in maintaining social cohesion among workers in the colony.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helena Mendes Ferreira, Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Fabio Santos do Nascimento, Tom Wenseleers, Cintia Akemi Oi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of juvenile hormone on reproduction in two primitive eusocial wasp species and its regulation of reproductive traits and chemical cues. The results show that hormone treatments significantly affect egg laying and the production of specific chemical signals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denyse Cavalcante Lago, Martin Hasselmann, Klaus Hartfelder
Summary: In this study, a comparative RNA-seq analysis was conducted on the larval gonads of honey bees at a critical stage of development. Differential gene expression was identified among the three sex and caste phenotypes, with enrichment in metabolism, protein or ion binding, and oxidoreductase activity. The analysis also revealed metabolic pathways as enriched. Despite programmed cell death in worker ovaries, the transcriptomes of queen and worker ovaries showed higher similarity compared to drone testis. RT-qPCR analysis identified DMRT A2 and Hsp83 as potential molecular markers for sex- and caste-specific gonad development in honey bees due to their upregulation in response to juvenile hormone.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
L. Valadares, F. S. Nascimento, N. Chaline
Summary: The study found that minor leafcutting ants exhibit the most aggressive response against non-nestmate ants. The division of labor in leafcutting ants is based on body size differences, and the nest serves as a strong social contextual stimulus for minors, possibly leading to their increased aggression towards foreign ants.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Tom Wenseleers, Cintia Akemi Oi, Fabio Santos do Nascimento
Summary: Chemical compounds, particularly hydrocarbons, play a crucial role in the recognition processes of social insects. In this study, we investigated the ability of females in the wasp species Mischocyttarus cerberus to discriminate between their own eggs and those of other species. By experimentally collecting eggs and offering them to different nests, we found that M. cerberus females can accurately discriminate eggs according to their origin. This discrimination skill is likely important for avoiding parasitism and maintaining the social integrity of the colony.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
H. C. Kelstrup, M. J. West-Eberhard, F. S. Nascimento, L. M. Riddiford, K. Hartfelder
Summary: Zethus miniatus is a predominantly solitary wasp species that exhibits some eusocial behavior. The females share a nest but provision their own brood. They display queen-like behavior when reproductive and worker-like behavior when provisioning the brood. This study provides insights into the reproductive physiology and behavior of this group-living species and suggests a link between competition for brood cells and the origin of reproductive castes.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Fabio Santos do Nascimento, Tom Wenseleers, Cintia Akemi Oi
Summary: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are crucial for chemical communication in social insects, such as wasps. This study found caste-specific differences in CHCs, egg surface, and Dufour's gland composition among four wasp species. The presence of specific hydrocarbons in queen-laid eggs and Dufour's gland suggests their role as putative fertility signals regulating reproductive labor division.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Denyse Cavalcante Lago, Luisa Czamanski Nora, Martin Hasselmann, Klaus Hartfelder
Summary: The honey bee, Apis mellifera, has a unique gonad phenotype and mating strategy compared to other social bees. RNA-seq analysis of larval gonads revealed different gene expression patterns between honey bee queens, workers, and drones. Comparative analysis of orthologs in bumble bees and stingless bees identified genes that are differentially represented. Evolutionary analysis of orthologs in various bee genomes revealed four genes with evidence of positive selection, including cytochrome P450 genes, suggesting their involvement in the evolution of polyandry and exaggerated gonad phenotype in social bees.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rafael Carvalho da Silva, Joao Marcelo Robazzi Bignelli Valente Aguiar, Cintia Akemi Oi, Jaqueline Eterna Batista, Martin Gurfa, Fabio Santos do Nascimento
Summary: Despite their role as pollinators and predators, the cognitive capacities of wasps, such as learning and memory, have been largely unexplored. In this study, we used Pavlovian conditioning to show that the neotropical wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus efficiently learns and remembers odor-sugar associations. However, differences in learning ability were observed between male and female wasps, possibly due to their different lifestyles. These findings highlight the importance of socioecological constraints on wasp cognition and provide a basis for further mechanistic studies on learning differences across ages and castes.
Article
Entomology
Larissa D. Ribeiro de Souza, Klaus Hartfelder
Summary: The expression of candidate genes associated with the transition from nurse to forager in stingless bees differs between species, possibly due to differences in worker reproduction. Specific gene expression in the head may be associated with foraging behavior.