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da Silva RC, Prato A, Tannure-Nascimento I, Akemi Oi C, Wenseleers T, Nascimento F. Cuticular hydrocarbons as caste-linked cues in Neotropical swarm-founding wasps. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13571. [PMID: 35694385 PMCID: PMC9186331 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Wasps (Vespidae) are important organisms to understand the evolution of social behaviour. Wasps show different levels of sociality, which includes solitary to highly eusocial organisms. In social insect species, queens and workers differ in physiology and morphology. The Neotropical swarm-founding wasps (Epiponini) show a variety of caste syndromes. In this clade, the caste-flexibility is a unique characteristic, in which workers can become queens and swarm to start a new nest. The investigation of the caste system comparing several Epiponini species show a clear-cut morphological distinction between queens and workers, with a morphological continuum between queens and workers. However, whether cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are used as cues for caste recognition in swarm-founding wasps is still unknown. We studied whether CHCs may display caste-linked differences in eleven species of Epiponini wasps and if CHCs differences would follow morphological patterns. Our results suggest that queens and workers of Epiponini wasps are chemically different from each other at two levels, qualitatively and quantitatively, or merely quantitatively. This variation seems to exist regardless of their morphological traits and may be useful to help us understanding how chemical communication evolved differently in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Carvalho da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia/Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amanda Prato
- Departamento de Biologia/Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ivelize Tannure-Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia/Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil,Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cintia Akemi Oi
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fabio Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia/Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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da Silva Cunha DA, Telles Menezes RS, Lima Cardoso CA, Antonialli Junior WF. Is It Possible to Obtain the Chemical Profile From Ethanol-Preserved Specimens? The Hydrocarbon and Fatty Acid Composition of the Social Wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:580-588. [PMID: 33675643 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvab010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular hydrocarbons perform multiple functions in insects such as protecting against desiccation and pathogenic infection, and signaling interactions. Evaluation of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of insects is commonly performed by extraction using a nonpolar solvent such as hexane. Specimens intended for CHC analysis are ideally handled by avoiding contact with solvents such as ethanol. However, insects are frequently stored in ethanol after collection, especially if intended for molecular analysis. To determine if it is possible that chemical compounds in the cuticles of specimens can withstand previous exposure to ethanol, we evaluated the efficiency of CHC extraction from specimens preserved in 95% ethanol. We extracted cuticular compounds from specimens of the social wasp Polybia paulista (Ihering) with no contact with ethanol solvents and compared them with those from specimens stored in 95% ethanol. We analyzed chemical composition from wasps and the 95% ethanol in which they had been stored by a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. In total, 56 compounds were detected: 50 that were classified as hydrocarbons which were mostly branched alkanes, followed by linear alkanes and alkenes. Three compounds were identified as fatty acids, and three compounds were unidentifiable. The ethanol-preserved specimens showed similar chemical profiles to those of specimens that had no contact with ethanol. Thus, we suggest that it is possible to study the chemical profiles of ethanol-preserved specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Alves da Silva Cunha
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Recursos Naturais, Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rodolpho Santos Telles Menezes
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Comparada e Abelhas, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Recursos Naturais, Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - William Fernando Antonialli Junior
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Recursos Naturais, Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
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Stored perfume dynamics and consequences for signal development in male orchid bees. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:311-320. [PMID: 30725162 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01319-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Male orchid bees (Euglossini) collect volatiles from their environment to concoct species-specific "perfumes", which are later emitted at mating sites. Intensity, complexity or composition of perfumes may encode age (survival) of a male, but how the individual perfume develops over time needs to be clarified. We investigated chemical changes during storage in leg pockets. We injected a mixture of eight perfume compounds into pockets of Euglossa imperialis and only the two most volatile compounds decreased over 12 days. Using a different approach we found significant shifts in quantities of naturally occurring perfume compounds of Euglossa championi over 10 days, with the strongest decreases (up to 70% peak area) in highly volatile minor compounds, e.g. monoterpenes, and noteworthy increases (up to 40%) in some sesquiterpenoids. Corresponding shifts were observed in legs of dried bees, suggesting that no metabolic activity is required for the observed changes to occur. Our results confirm that male orchid bees are generally good at preserving collected perfumes. However, subtle shifts towards heavier compounds in blends may occur over the lifetime of individual bees, e.g. due to evaporation or in-pocket chemical reaction, with old males acquiring a more pronounced base note in their seasoned perfumes.
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Bodner M, Vagalinski B, Raspotnig G. Chemotaxonomic potential of exocrine alkyl esters in julid millipedes (Diplopoda: Julidae: Cylindroiulini). BIOCHEM SYST ECOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bse.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Haliński ŁP, Samuels J, Stepnowski P. Multivariate analysis as a key tool in chemotaxonomy of brinjal eggplant, African eggplants and wild related species. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2017; 144:87-97. [PMID: 28910606 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The brinjal eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important vegetable species worldwide, while African eggplants (S. aethiopicum L., S. macrocarpon L.) are indigenous vegetable species of local significance. Taxonomy of eggplants and their wild relatives is complicated and still unclear. Hence, the objective of the study was to clarify taxonomic position of cultivars and landraces of brinjal, its wild relatives and African eggplant species and their wild ancestors using chemotaxonomic markers and multivariate analysis techniques for data processing, with special attention paid to the recognition of markers characteristic for each group of the plants. The total of 34 accessions belonging to 9 species from genus Solanum L. were used in the study. Chemotaxonomic analysis was based on the profiles of cuticular n-alkanes and methylalkanes, obtained using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Standard hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for the classification, while the latter and two-way HCA allowed to identify markers responsible for the clustering of the species. Cultivars, landraces and wild forms of S. melongena were practically identical in terms of their taxonomic position. The results confirmed high and statistically significant distinctiveness of all African eggplant species from the brinjal eggplant. The latter was characterized mostly by abundant long chain hydrocarbons in the range of 34-37 carbon atoms. The differences between both African eggplant species were, however, also statistically significant; S. aethiopicum displayed the highest contribution of 2-methylalkanes to the total cuticular hydrocarbons, while S. macrocarpon was characterized by elevated n-alkanes in the range of 25-32 carbon atoms. Wild ancestors of both African eggplant species were identical with their cultivated relatives. Concluding, high usefulness of the chemotaxonomic approach in classification of this important group of plants was confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz P Haliński
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - John Samuels
- Novel Solanaceae Crops Project, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8XD, UK
| | - Piotr Stepnowski
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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Observation of intra- and interspecific differences in the nest chemical profiles of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Polistinae) using infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2017; 176:165-170. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Vaníčková L, Nagy R, Pompeiano A, Kalinová B. Epicuticular chemistry reinforces the new taxonomic classification of the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex (Diptera: Tephritidae, Dacinae). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184102. [PMID: 28873446 PMCID: PMC5584755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White, Bactrocera papayae Drew & Hancock, and Bactrocera philippinensis Drew & Hancock, key pest species within the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex, have been recently synonymized under the name Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). The closely related Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock remains as a discrete taxonomic entity. Although the synonymizations have been accepted by most researchers, debate about the species limits remains. Because of the economic importance of this group of taxa, any new information available to support or deny the synonymizations is valuable. We investigated the chemical epicuticle composition of males and females of B. dorsalis, B. invadens, B. papayae, B. philippinensis, and B. carambolae by means of one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, followed by multiple factor analyses and principal component analysis. Clear segregation of complex cuticule profiles of both B. carambolae sexes from B. dorsalis (Hendel) was observed. In addition to cuticular hydrocarbons, abundant complex mixtures of sex-specific oxygenated lipids (three fatty acids and 22 fatty acid esters) with so far unknown function were identified in epicuticle extracts from females of all species. The data obtained supports both taxonomic synonymization of B. invadens, B. papayae, and B. philippinensis with B. dorsalis, as well as the exclusion of B. carambolae from B. dorsalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Vaníčková
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Nagy
- Laboratory of Infochemicals, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonio Pompeiano
- Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Blanka Kalinová
- Laboratory of Infochemicals, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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Santos AB, Nascimento FS. Do Distinct Biomes Influence the Cuticular Chemical Profile in Orchid Bees? ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 46:335-342. [PMID: 28334073 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvw169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular chemical profiles of Euglossa cordata L. males were analyzed to test whether ecological predictors affect their composition and relative proportion. Males were collected in areas of Caatinga and Atlantic Forest from Brazil during two distinct seasonal periods. We found 48 compounds from the cuticular extracts of males, which consisted of hydrocarbons (71.39%), acetates (16.79%), esters (10.5%), alcohols and others (1.31%). We verified that when specimens were separated between biomes, they did not show a qualitative differentiation, but a small quantitative variation of compounds was found between some alkanes. We suggest that these results reflect stability of epicuticular compounds even under variable environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Santos
- Laboratório de Comportamento e Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (; )
| | - F S Nascimento
- Laboratório de Comportamento e Ecologia de Insetos Sociais, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (; )
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