A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Susanne Petronella A Den Boer; Marie-Jose Duchateau

doi:10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8

A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Susanne Petronella A Den Boer, Marie-Jose Duchateau

Ecology and Evolution

35 Citations (Scopus)

1286 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Larvae of Bombus terrestris, a pollen-storing bumblebee, are dependent on progressive provisioning by workers. We test the hypothesis that larval cuticular chemicals can act as a hunger signal. We first show with a new classical conditioning experiment, using a Y-shaped tube, that workers can be trained to prefer the extracts of normally fed larvae over those of starved larvae. This proves the ability of workers to discriminate between larval extracts. Second, we show in a bioassay that workers also use these perceived differences to feed larvae according to their nutritional status. Larval broods sprayed with the extracts of the starved larvae were fed significantly more than larval broods sprayed with the extracts of normally fed larvae or with the solvent (n-pentane) only. We therefore conclude that B. terrestris larvae signal their need for food via their cuticular chemicals, and discuss the extent to which this form of communication could give larvae some control over their development.

Original language	English
Journal	Insectes Sociaux
Volume	53
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	369-373
Number of pages	5
ISSN	0020-1812
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8
Publication status	Published - 2006

Access to Document

10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8

Den Boer Duchateau 2006Final published version, 79.3 KB

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g27862663u5742k6/?p=ceac371f58784ca1a8eaef6e519883ed&pi=0

Cite this

@article{17fecb005cab11dd8d9f000ea68e967b,

title = "A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris",

abstract = "Larvae of Bombus terrestris, a pollen-storing bumblebee, are dependent on progressive provisioning by workers. We test the hypothesis that larval cuticular chemicals can act as a hunger signal. We first show with a new classical conditioning experiment, using a Y-shaped tube, that workers can be trained to prefer the extracts of normally fed larvae over those of starved larvae. This proves the ability of workers to discriminate between larval extracts. Second, we show in a bioassay that workers also use these perceived differences to feed larvae according to their nutritional status. Larval broods sprayed with the extracts of the starved larvae were fed significantly more than larval broods sprayed with the extracts of normally fed larvae or with the solvent (n-pentane) only. We therefore conclude that B. terrestris larvae signal their need for food via their cuticular chemicals, and discuss the extent to which this form of communication could give larvae some control over their development.",

author = "{Den Boer}, {Susanne Petronella A} and Marie-Jose Duchateau",

note = "Keywords. Bombus - larval solicitation - hunger signal - cuticular chemicals - feeding",

year = "2006",

doi = "10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8",

language = "English",

volume = "53",

pages = "369--373",

journal = "Insectes Sociaux",

issn = "0020-1812",

publisher = "Springer Basel AG",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

AU - Den Boer, Susanne Petronella A

AU - Duchateau, Marie-Jose

N1 - Keywords. Bombus - larval solicitation - hunger signal - cuticular chemicals - feeding

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Larvae of Bombus terrestris, a pollen-storing bumblebee, are dependent on progressive provisioning by workers. We test the hypothesis that larval cuticular chemicals can act as a hunger signal. We first show with a new classical conditioning experiment, using a Y-shaped tube, that workers can be trained to prefer the extracts of normally fed larvae over those of starved larvae. This proves the ability of workers to discriminate between larval extracts. Second, we show in a bioassay that workers also use these perceived differences to feed larvae according to their nutritional status. Larval broods sprayed with the extracts of the starved larvae were fed significantly more than larval broods sprayed with the extracts of normally fed larvae or with the solvent (n-pentane) only. We therefore conclude that B. terrestris larvae signal their need for food via their cuticular chemicals, and discuss the extent to which this form of communication could give larvae some control over their development.

AB - Larvae of Bombus terrestris, a pollen-storing bumblebee, are dependent on progressive provisioning by workers. We test the hypothesis that larval cuticular chemicals can act as a hunger signal. We first show with a new classical conditioning experiment, using a Y-shaped tube, that workers can be trained to prefer the extracts of normally fed larvae over those of starved larvae. This proves the ability of workers to discriminate between larval extracts. Second, we show in a bioassay that workers also use these perceived differences to feed larvae according to their nutritional status. Larval broods sprayed with the extracts of the starved larvae were fed significantly more than larval broods sprayed with the extracts of normally fed larvae or with the solvent (n-pentane) only. We therefore conclude that B. terrestris larvae signal their need for food via their cuticular chemicals, and discuss the extent to which this form of communication could give larvae some control over their development.

U2 - 10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8

DO - 10.1007/s00040-006-0883-8

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0020-1812

VL - 53

SP - 369

EP - 373

JO - Insectes Sociaux

JF - Insectes Sociaux

IS - 3

ER -

A larval hunger signal in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this