Anthophora Bees: Unusual Glycerides from Maternal Dufour's Glands Serve as Larval Food and Cell Lining
BETH NORDEN 1,
SUZANNE W.T. BATRA 2,
HENRY M. FALES 3,
ABRAHAM HEFETZ 3, and
G. JOHN SHAW 4
1 Department of Biological Sciences, Towson State University, Towson, Maryland 21204
2 Beneficial Insect Introduction Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
3 Laboratory of Chemistry, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20205
4 Borriston Research Laboratory, Temple Hills, Maryland 20031
The Dufour's gland of Anthophora abrupta, a solitary bee, secretes a complex mixture of liquid triglycerides containing one long-chain and two shortchain fatty acids. This is applied inside the earthen brood cells and added to the provision, where it is converted, perhaps by enzymes from the bee's saliva or gut, to solid diglycerides that are later eaten by the bee larvae. This use of Dufour's gland secretion as food and its nutritive function are reminiscent of the royal jelly secreted by honey bees.
Submitted on August 6, 1979
Revised on November 30, 1979
