Research interests

• Bumblebees
• Cuckoo Bumblebees
• Nest recognition
• Regulation of reproduction
• Pheromones
• Host-Parasite interactions

 

 

Scientific projects

The aim of my PhD thesis is to identify chemical signals with a function in interactions of cuckoo bumblebees (Bombus subgenus Psithyrus) and their bumblebee hosts. In spring, parasitic Psithyrus females invade freshly established nests of bumblebees. A first aim of my thesis is to identify chemicals, which are used by parasite females to recognize their own hosts. After entering a host colony, parasite females kill or burke the host queen and use the workers to rear alien offspring. Therefore, semiochemicals produced by cuckoo bumblebees are probably involved to regulate the reproduction of the host workers. A second aim of my thesis is to identify chemicals with a function in regulation of reproduction in different host-parasite relationships.

Publications

Kreuter K, Bunk E, Lückemeyer A, Robert T, Francke W, Ayasse M (2011) How the social parasitic bumblebee Bombus bohemicus sneaks into power of reproduction. Behav Ecol Sociobiol, DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1294-z

Kreuter K, Twele R, Francke W and Ayasse M (2010) Specialist Bombus vestalis and generalist Bombus bohemicus use different odour cues to find their host Bombus terrestris. Anim Behav, 80: 297-302

Conference contributions

Kreuter K, Sramkova A, Twele R, Francke W and Ayasse M (2010). How specialist and generalist cuckoo bumblebees sneak into power of reproduction. International Union for the Studies of Social Insects (IUSSI) Tagung - Copenhagen, Denmark. 114 - talk

Kreuter K, Sramkova A, Twele R, Francke W and Ayasse M (2010). Putsch im Hummelstaat: Wie Kuckuckshummeln sich die Macht über die Reproduktion erschleichen. Hymenopterologen-Tagung, Stuttgart, Germany. 25 – talk

Kreuter K, Bunk E , Twele R, Francke W, Ayasse M (2009) Recognition of host nests by cuckoo bumblebees. Deutsche Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie - Tagung, Göttingen, Germany. 58 - talk

Kreuter K, Bunk E , Twele R, Francke W, Ayasse M (2009) Identification of host nest recognition signals used by cuckoo bumblebees. International Union for the Studies of Social Insects - Tagung, Fraueninsel Chiemsee, Germany. 38 - talk

Kreuter K, Bunk E, Sramkova A, Twele R, Francke W, Ayasse M (2008) Wirtsnesterkennung bei generalistischen und speziallisierten Kuckuckushummeln. Hymenopterologen-Tagung, Stuttgart, Germany. 23 - talk