Melipona beecheii (Hymenoptera, Apidae) foragers deposit a chemical mark on food to attract conspecifics

Stingless bees have a sophisticated system of chemical communication that helps conspecifics find food sources. In this study, we investigated whether Melipona beecheii foragers deposit mark on to recruit conspecifics. Our results showed preferred visit the feeders visited previously by over clean feeders. We also found visiting baited with labial gland extracts those mandibular or hexane. Labial elicited higher forager antennal responses compared evoked and from contain mixture unsaturated hydrocarbons, followed straight chain hydrocarbons small quantities esters. The main component is alkene isomers C27:1.