OLFACTORY PERCEPTION OF THE SEX ATTRACTANT PHEROMONE OF THE GREATER WAX MOTH, GALLERIA MELLONELLA L. (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), BY THE HONEY BEE, APIS MELLIFERA L. (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE)1

Abstract

Electrophysiological responses of worker honey bees were recorded to a series of six to eleven carbon saturated aldehydes (100 μg dosage) including nonanal and undecanal, components of the sex attractant pheromone of the greater wax moth. Peak responsiveness occurred to heptanal, octanal, and nonanal. Dosage response curves to serial dilutions of nonanal and undecanal revealed both greater sensitivity and a larger population of acceptors responsive to nonanal. The results are discussed with regard to honey bee/greater wax moth ecology.