64 
Psyche 
[Vol. 92 
A 
number of virgin | 
queens sampled! 
mean c.pm peri 
virgin queen I 
number of I 
virgin queens 
labeled! 
Queen.’ J Virgin 
Larvae. jQueens 
Workers [Workers 
j 90 
J 15/rep. 
! 15.0 + 
! 160 b 
45 
mean cpmper I 
labeled virgin 336+240a 
queen I 
food — 
Q' 
VQ. 
L.W 
W 
90 
379 + 
185b 
55 
C 
* food 
O’ 
VQ 
L..W 
W. 
90 
1678 1 
229.9a 
56 
D 
food « 
Q' 
VQ 
L..W. 
90 
71.6 + 
81.2b 
53 
56 2tll8.3a 
189.9t6242a 
1218+509.8a 
E 
— ■■ food 
Q‘ 
1 VQ. 
L..W 
1 90 
1 69.9 1 
|l365b 
32 
1966+9887a 
Figure 4. Number of virgin queens containing radioactivity following reintroduc- 
tion of the mated queen who was surface labeled with radiolabel (*). Five trials (A-E) 
were conducted on each of 6 colonies with no food, food on the queenright or 
queenless side, and virgin queens with or without workers. Boxes were divided with 
screens which allowed trophallaxis and limited antennal contact. Radioactivity 
(counts per minute or cpm) was measured after 1 h. Results are given as means and 
standard deviations for all virgin queens measured (within boxes) and for only those 
virgin queens that received radioactivity (below boxes). Means followed by the same 
letter in each row are not significantly different at p < 0.05 using Scheffe’s Test. 
placed on the queenless side, received significantly more label than 
the virgin queens in all other trials (Scheffe’s test). Proteinaceous 
food is normally directed toward the queen and brood (Sorensen 
and Vinson 1981) so Trial C closely approximated normal food flow 
conditions. Fewer virgin queens received radioactive tracer (and less 
of it) when food was absent than when food was present but differ- 
ences were not statistically significant. Untended virgin queens 
received radioactivity indicating that workers on the queenright side 
contacted them through the screen (Trial E) and, when food was 
placed near them, untended virgin queens contacted workers on the 
queenright side (Trial D). 
The weights of the mated queens used ranged from 16.8 mg to 
19.6 mg, considered marginally physogastric by Fletcher and Blum 
(1983). There was a strong correlation between the weight of the 
queen and the number of virgin queens receiving radioactivity (y = 
1 5.7 lx — 257, r 2 = 0.67). The mean percentage of radiolabel remain- 
ing on the queen after each trial ranged from 21-39%. This contrasts 
with a mean of roughly 6% left in the first experiments. The weight 
of the queen was also strongly correlated with the quantity of radio- 
label removed (y = -0.05x + 1.26, r 2 = 0.65). As the queens de- 
creased in weight, less radiolabel was groomed from their surface 
and the number of virgin queens receiving radiolabel decreased. 
