Pheromones of the Honeybee: Chemical Studies of the Mandibular Gland Secretion of the Queen

Abstract

SUMMARYPhysical and chemical investigations of extracts of the heads of queen honeybees have been made with the object of identifying the components of the mandibular gland contents. By gas-liquid chromatographic examination the following have been identified: methyl 9-oxodecanoate, methyl 9-oxodec-2- enoate, methyl 9-hydroxydecanoate, methyl 9-hydroxydec-2-enoate, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, nonoic acid, decanoic acid, dec-2-enoic acid, 9-oxodecanoic acid, 9-hydroxydecanoic acid, 9-oxodec-2-enoic acid, 9-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid, lO-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid and p-methoxybenzoic acid. The chromatographic traces also indicate the presence of an additional substance in the neutral fraction and seventeen as yet unidentified substances in the acid fraction.