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Diversity in a honey bee pathogen: first report of a third master variant of the Deformed Wing Virus quasispecies (2015)
Journal Article
Mordecai, G. J., Wilfert, L., Martin, S. J., Jones, I. M., & Schroeder, D. C. (2016). Diversity in a honey bee pathogen: first report of a third master variant of the Deformed Wing Virus quasispecies. ISME Journal, 10(5), 1264-1273. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2015.178

Treatment of emerging RNA viruses is hampered by the high mutation and replication rates that enable these viruses to operate as a quasispecies. Declining honey bee populations have been attributed to the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and its... Read More about Diversity in a honey bee pathogen: first report of a third master variant of the Deformed Wing Virus quasispecies.

Superinfection exclusion and the long-term survival of honey bees in Varroa-infested colonies (2015)
Journal Article
Mordecai, G. J., Brettell, L., Martin, S. J., Dixon, D., Jones, I. M., & Schroeder, D. C. (2016). Superinfection exclusion and the long-term survival of honey bees in Varroa-infested colonies. ISME Journal, 10(5), 1182-1191. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2015.186

Over the past 50 years, many millions of European honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies have died as the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, has spread around the world. Subsequent studies have indicated that the mite’s association with a group of R... Read More about Superinfection exclusion and the long-term survival of honey bees in Varroa-infested colonies.

Using errors by guard honeybees (Apis mellifera) to gain new insights into nestmate recognition signals (2015)
Journal Article
gain new insights into nestmate recognition signals. Chemical Senses, 40(9), 649-653. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjv053

Although the honeybee (Apis mellifera) is one of the world most studied insects, the chemical compounds used in nestmate recognition, remains an open question. By exploiting the error prone recognition system of the honeybee, coupled with genotypin... Read More about Using errors by guard honeybees (Apis mellifera) to gain new insights into nestmate recognition signals.

Evidence for colony-specific differences in chemical mimicry in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor (2015)
Journal Article
Kather, R., Drijfhout, F., & Martin, S. (2015). Evidence for colony-specific differences in chemical mimicry in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Chemoecology, 25(4), 215-222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-015-0191-8

In social insects, the integrity of a colony is maintained by recognising and removing aliens. Nest-mates use chemical cues on the cuticle of the individual they encounter to determine whether or not it is part of the colony. Parasites have evolved t... Read More about Evidence for colony-specific differences in chemical mimicry in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor.

Evidence for passive chemical camouflage in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor (2015)
Journal Article
Kather, R., Drijfhout, F., Shemilt, S., & Martin, S. (2015). Evidence for passive chemical camouflage in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 41(2), 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-015-0548-z

Social insect colonies provide a stable and safe environment for their members. Despite colonies been heavily guarded, parasites have evolved numerous strategies to invade and inhabit these hostile places. Two common strategies are chemical mimicry v... Read More about Evidence for passive chemical camouflage in the parasitic mite Varroa destructor.

Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons in the hymenoptera : a meta-analysis (2015)
Journal Article
Kather, R., & Martin, S. (2015). Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons in the hymenoptera : a meta-analysis. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 41(10), 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-015-0631-5

Chemical communication is the oldest form of communication, spreading across all organisms of life. In insects, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) function as the chemical recognition cues for the recognition of mates, species and nest-mates in social inse... Read More about Evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons in the hymenoptera : a meta-analysis.

Is the Bee louse Braula coeca (Diptera) using chemical camouflage to survive within honeybee colonies? (2014)
Journal Article
Martin, S., & bayfield, J. (2014). Is the Bee louse Braula coeca (Diptera) using chemical camouflage to survive within honeybee colonies?. Chemoecology, 24(4), 165-169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-014-0158-1

The bee louse, Braula coeca is a highly specialised flattened, wingless fly that spends its entire adult life on adult honeybees. It feeds by stealing food directly from bees during social feeding (trophallaxis). The Braula fly has a preference to in... Read More about Is the Bee louse Braula coeca (Diptera) using chemical camouflage to survive within honeybee colonies?.

Chemical deception among ant social parasites (2014)
Journal Article
Gulliem, R., Drijfhout, F., & Martin, S. (2014). Chemical deception among ant social parasites. Current Zoology, 60(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/60.1.62

Deception is widespread throughout the animal kingdom and various deceptive strategies are exemplified by social parasites. These are species of ants, bees and wasps that have evolved to invade, survive and reproduce within a host colony of another s... Read More about Chemical deception among ant social parasites.

Recognition of nestmate eggs in the ant Formica fusca is based on queen derived cues (2014)
Journal Article
based on queen derived cues. Current Zoology, 60(1), 131-136

Inclusive fitness benefits depend on recognizing the right individuals to interact with. Social insect nests protect themselves from non-kin intruders through nestmate recognition based on chemical cues. The recognition cues on adult individuals ar... Read More about Recognition of nestmate eggs in the ant Formica fusca is based on queen derived cues.

The role of deformed wing virus in the initial collapse of varroa infested honey bee colonies in the UK. (2013)
Journal Article
Martin, S., Ball, B., & Carreck, N. (2013). The role of deformed wing virus in the initial collapse of varroa infested honey bee colonies in the UK. Journal of Apicultural Research, 52(5), 251-258. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.5.12

The mite Varroa destructor has been associated with the collapse of millions of Apis mellifera honey bee colonies world-wide. During the past decade, a large body of research has revealed various interactions between varroa, the honey bee and various... Read More about The role of deformed wing virus in the initial collapse of varroa infested honey bee colonies in the UK..

Sources of variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the ant formica exsecta (2013)
Journal Article
Martin, S., Vitikainen, E., Shemilt, S., Drijfhout, F., & Sundström, L. (2013). Sources of variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the ant formica exsecta. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 39(11-12), 1415-1423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-013-0366-0

Phenotypic variation arises from interactions between genotype and environment, although how variation is produced and then maintained remains unclear. The discovery of the nest-mate recognition system in Formica exsecta ants has allowed phenotypic v... Read More about Sources of variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the ant formica exsecta.

Nest-mate recognition cues are not used during or influenced by mating in the antFormica exsecta (2013)
Journal Article
Martin, S., Shemilt, S., & Trontti, K. (2014). Nest-mate recognition cues are not used during or influenced by mating in the antFormica exsecta. Ethology Ecology and Evolution, 26(1), 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2013.809386

A wide range of mating isolating mechanisms has evolved to avoid mating with close relatives. In mating aggregations that commonly occur in social insects (bees, wasps and ants) sexuals from the same colony can potentially be present, so some type of... Read More about Nest-mate recognition cues are not used during or influenced by mating in the antFormica exsecta.

Global honey bee viral landscape altered by a parasitic mite (2012)
Journal Article
Martin, S., Highfield, A., Brettell, L., Nikado, S., Villalobos, E., & Schoder, D. (2012). Global honey bee viral landscape altered by a parasitic mite. Science, 336(6086), 1304-1306. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1220941

Emerging diseases are among the greatest threats to honey bees. Unfortunately, where and when an emerging disease will appear are almost impossible to predict. The arrival of the parasitic Varroa mite into the Hawaiian honey bee population allowed... Read More about Global honey bee viral landscape altered by a parasitic mite.