Marked interspecific differences in the neuroanatomy of the male olfactory system of honey bees (genus Apis). Issue 18 (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bastin, Florian; Couto, Antoine; Larcher, Virginie; Phiancharoen, Mananya; Koeniger, Gudrun; Koeniger, Nikolaus; Sandoz, Jean‐Christophe
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative neurology. Volume 526:Issue 18(2018)
• Page Start: 3020
• Page End: 3034
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: antennal lobe -- honey bee -- macroglomerulus -- premating isolation -- reproduction -- RRID: SCR_000450 -- RRID: SCR_003070 -- RRID: SCR_007353 -- RRID: SCR_013672 -- RRID: SCR_014213; Comparative neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.24513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9967

Abstract

Abstract: All honey bee species (genus Apis ) display a striking mating behavior with the formation of male (drone) congregations, in which virgin queens mate with many drones. Bees' mating behavior relies on olfactory communication involving queen—but also drone pheromones. To explore the evolution of olfactory communication in Apis, we analyzed the neuroanatomical organization of the antennal lobe (primary olfactory center) in the drones of five species from the three main lineages (open‐air nesting species: dwarf honey bees Apis florea and giant honey bees Apis dorsata ; cavity‐nesting species: Apis mellifera, Apis kochevnikovi, and Apis cerana ) and from three populations of A. cerana (Borneo, Thailand, and Japan). In addition to differences in the overall number of morphological units, the glomeruli, our data reveal marked differences in the number and position of macroglomeruli, enlarged units putatively dedicated to sex pheromone processing. Dwarf and giant honey bee species possess two macroglomeruli while cavity‐nesting bees present three or four macroglomeruli, suggesting an increase in the complexity of sex communication during evolution in the genus Apis . The three A. cerana populations showed differing absolute numbers of glomeruli but the same three macroglomeruli. Overall, we identified six different macroglomeruli in the genus Apis . One of these (called MGb), which is dedicated to the detection of the major queen compound 9‐ODA in A. mellifera, was conserved in all species. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of sex communication in honey bees and propose a putative scenario of antennal lobe evolution in the Apis genus. Abstract : Using neuropile staining and confocal microscopy, the authors analyze the morphology of the male antennal lobe in 5 honey bee (Apis) species, showing remarkable differences in these species' equipment in hypertrophied morphological units, the macroglomeruli. They propose a putative scenario of antennal lobe evolution in Apis.