Journal Article

Pheromone communication in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.)

Winston, Mark L., Slessor, Keith N., Le Conte, Yves, Unité mixte de recherche Ecologie des invertébrés (UAPV)

2005

Overview

Recent studies have demonstrated a remarkable and unexpected complexity in social insect pheromone communication, particularly for honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). The intricate interactions characteristic of social insects demand a complex language, based on specialized chemical signals that provide a syntax that is deeper in complexity and richer in nuance than previously imagined. Here, we discuss this rapidly evolving field for honeybees, the only social insect for which any primer pheromones have been identified. Novel research has demonstrated the importance of complexity, synergy, context, and dose, mediated through spatial and temporal pheromone distribution, and has revealed an unprecedented wealth of identified semiochemicals and functions. These new results demand fresh terminology, and we propose adding “colony pheromone” and “passenger pheromone” to the current terms sociochemical, releaser, and primer pheromone to better encompass our growing understanding of chemical communication in social insects.

• Publisher: Springer Verlag,HAL CCSD,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Animal and plant ecology / Animal behavior / Animal Communication / Animal productions / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Animals / Apiculture / Apis mellifera / Autoecology / Bees / Bees - physiology / Biological and medical sciences / chemistry / Female / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General aspects / honey bees / insect communication / Insecta / Insects / Invertebrates / Life Sciences / Male / Pheromones / Pheromones - chemistry / Pheromones - physiology / physiology / Social Behavior / social insects / Syntax / Terrestrial animal productions