Eumelanin and pheomelanin are predominant pigments in bumblebee (Apidae: Bombus) pubescence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus) are well known for their important inter- and intra-specific variation in hair (or pubescence) color patterns, but the chemical nature of the pigments associated with these patterns is not fully understood. For example, though melanization is believed to provide darker colors, it still unknown which types of melanin are responsible for each color, and no conclusive data are available for the lighter colors, including white.

Methods

By using dispersive Raman spectroscopy analysis on 12 species/subspecies of bumblebees from seven subgenera, we tested the hypothesis that eumelanin and pheomelanin, the two main melanin types occurring in animals, are largely responsible for bumblebee pubescence coloration.

Results

SUBMITTER: Polidori C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5445944 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature