Influence of social environment on genetically based subfamily signature in the honeybee

In honeybees, the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are partly genetically bas ed and differ between subfamilies, which suggests that they might be used b y the workers as labels for subfamily recognition. This ability could poten tially form the basis for nepotistic conflicts between subfamilies that wou ld be detrimental to the inclusive fitness of the colony. Here we have comp ared the subfamily hydrocarbon profiles of 5-day-old workers maintained in isolation with those kept in their parental colony. We demonstrate that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles tend to be less distant between most subfam ilies within the hive compared with those held in isolation. The main conse quence of this partial homogenization of the majority of subfamily signatur es may result in a reduction of the number of recognizable subfamilies in t he colony. Nevertheless, a few subfamilies retain very distinct cuticular h ydrocarbon profiles.