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Chemical Ecology of Bees
(Group T. Eltz)

We study how odours influence foraging and reproductive behaviour of bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae). The perception of volatile chemicals is phylogenetically old and occurs in all terrestrial lifeforms. In the life of extant bees, odours present themselves in two rather distinct forms: Plant-derived odours, e.g. that of food resources (flowers) or nest construction material (resin), and bee-derived odours, e.g. specific pheromones used for communication among bees. Chemically, the two classes of odours are also quite distinct: Plant odours are normally terpenoids, whereas many bee pheromones are fatty-acid derived lipids. Our group studies two borderline phenomena: Male orchid bees perfume themselves with terpenoid plant odours for courtship, and bumblebees perceive and avoid their lipoid footprints while foraging on flowers. We use behavioural experiments, chemical analysis (GC/MS), and electrophysiological screens (EAG, GC-EAD) to shed light on these behaviours and to gain an understanding of the selective pressures driving the evolution of bee olfaction.