Queen Pheromone Blocks Aversive Learning in Young Worker Bees

doi:10.1126/science.1142448

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Queen Pheromone Blocks Aversive Learning in Young Worker Bees

Vanina Vergoz, Haley A. Schreurs, Alison R. Mercer^*

Abstract: Queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) has profound effects on dopaminesignaling in the brain of young worker honey bees. As dopaminein insects has been strongly implicated in aversive learning,we examined QMP's impact on associative olfactory learning inbees. We found that QMP blocks aversive learning in young workers,but leaves appetitive learning intact. We postulate that QMP'seffects on aversive learning enhance the likelihood that youngworkers remain in close contact with their queen by preventingthem from forming an aversion to their mother's pheromone bouquet.The results provide an interesting twist to a story of successand survival.

Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: alison.mercer{at}stonebow.otago.ac.nz

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