Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Chemica Scripta
Publication Date
1-1-1973
First Page
1
Last Page
10
Abstract
The occurrence in the same locality on Oland of two distinct forms of the bumble-bee species Bombus lucorum L. (Hymenoptera , Apidae) is demonstrated. First, the main components of the individual male cephalic marking secretion were identified. They were found to be different in the two forms. Then the forms were separated morphologically, based on the distribution of light-and dark-coloured hairs. The chemical identifications are based upon combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, capillary gas chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy, as well as ozonolysis, performed on a micro scale. For the gas chromatographic separations a pre-column tube technique or a splitter-free intake system was used. The distinguishing chemical feature is the presence in the so-called "dark" form, of ethyl dodecanoate as main component, whereas the "blonde" form contains ethyl tetradec-cis-9-enoate as the main component, together with a small amount of ethyl dodecanoate. Beside these compounds, other aliphatic ethyl esters have been identified. Some data on B. terrestris L. are included here for comparison, as well as some preliminary results from analyses of the marking secretions of the species Bombus sporadicus Nyl. and Bombus paragiatus Nyl., which also belong to the group of bumble-bees, classified as Terrestribombus Vogt.
Recommended Citation
Bergström, Gunnar; Kullenberg, Bertil; and Ställberg-Stenhagen, Stina, "Studies on Natural Odoriferous Compounds VII" (1973). Ba. Paper 118.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/118