Conserved Class of Queen Pheromones Stops Social Insect Workers from Reproducing

van Oystaeyen, A.; Oliveira, R.; Holman, L.; V. van Zweden, J.; Romero, Carmen; A. Oi, C.; D’ettorre, P.; Khalesi, Mohammadreza; Billen, J.; Wäckers, F.; Millar, J.; Wenseleers, T.

doi:10.1126/science.1244899

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Conserved class of queen pheromones stops social insect workers from reproducing.

Shared by NobleBlocks on Jan 17, 2014 • 12:00 AM UTC

Authors:

Annette Van Oystaeyen

Ricardo Caliari Oliveira

Luke Holman

Abstract

A major evolutionary transition to eusociality with reproductive division of labor between queens and workers has arisen independently at least 10 times in the ants, bees, and wasps. Pheromones produced by queens are thought to play a key role in regulating this complex social system, but their evol...

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