Abraham Hefetz is a chemical ecologist and evolutionary biologist. His specific field of interest lies in the evolution of chemical communication (pheromones) in social insects. The complexity of these creatures’ systems of communication open the way to deciphering the syntax and context of response to chemical signals. His lab engages with both unraveling the chemical nature of pheromones and the behavior that they elicit.
Ants
Soroker, V., Vienne, C. Hefetz, A ., and Nowbahari, E. 1994 The P ostpharyngeal Gland as a “Gestalt” Organ for Nestmate Recognition in the Ant Cataglyphis niger . Naturwissen. 81:510-513
Soroker, V., Vienne, C. and Hefetz, A . 1995 Hydrocarbon dynamics within and between nestmates in Cataglyphis niger (hymenoptera: formicidae). J. Chem. Ecol. 21:365-378
Vienne, C., Soroker, V. and Hefetz, A . 1995 Congruency of hydrocarbon patterns in heterospecific groups of ants: transfer and/or biosynthesis ? Insectes Sociaux 42:267-277
Errard C., and Hefetz, A . (1997) Label familiarity and discriminatory ability of ants reared in mixed groups. Insectes Sociaux 44: 1-10.
Lahav, S., Soroker, V., Vander Meer, R. K., and Hefetz, A . (1998) Nestmate recognition in the ant Cataglyphis niger : Do queens matter? Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 43: 203-212
Lahav, S., Soroker, V., Vander Meer R. K., and Hefetz, A . (1999) Direct Behavioral Evidence for Hydrocarbons as Ant Recognition Discriminators. Naturwissen. 86:246-249
Soroker, V., and Hefetz, A . (2000) Hydrocarbon site of synthesis and circulation in the desert ant Cataglyphis niger J. Insect Physiol. 46: 1097-1102
Boulay, R., Hefetz, A ., Soroker, V., and Lenoir, A . (2000) Camponotus fellah colony integration: worker individuality necessitates frequent hydrocarbon exchanges. Anim. Behav. 59:1127-1133
Boulay, R., Soroker, V., Godzi n ska, E. J., Hefetz, A . and Lenoir, A. (2000) Octopamine reverses the isolation-induced increase in trophallaxis in the Carpenter ant Camponotus fellah J. Exp. Biol. 203: 513-520
Lenoir, A., Hefetz, A , Simon,T, and Soroker, V. 2001 Comparative study of the dynamics of gestalt odour formation in two ant species, Camponotus fellah and Aphaenogaster senilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Physiol. Entomol. 26:275-283
Lenoir, A., D'Ettorre, P., Errard C., & Hefetz, A . 2001 Chemical ecology and social parasitism in ants. Ann. Rev. Entomol 46: 573-599.
Boulay R., Katzav-Gozansky, T., Vander Meer, R.K. and Hefetz, A., 2003 Colony insularity through queen control on worker social motivation in ants. Proc. Royal Soc Lond. B 270:971-977
Lavine, B.K, Davidson, C., Vander Meer, R.K., Lahav, S., Soroker, V., and Hefetz, A. 2003 Genetic Algorithms for Deciphering the Complex Chemosensory Code of Social Insects Chemom. Intell. Lab. Syst. 66:51-62
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Boulay, R., Vander Meer, R.K., and Hefetz, A. 2004 In-Nest environment modulates nestmate recognition in the ant Camponotus fellah. Naturwissenschaften 91:186-190
Boulay R., Katzav-Gozansky T., Hefetz, A. and Lenoir, L. 2004 Odour convergence and tolerance between nestmates through trophallaxis and grooming in the ant Camponotus fellah (Dalla Torre). Insectes Sociaux 51:55-61
Richard F-J, Hefetz, A., Christides J-P, and Errard, C. 2004 Food influence on colonial recognition and chemical signature between nestmates in the fungus growing ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus. Chemoecology 14:9-16
Errard, C., Delabie, J., Jourdan, H., and Hefetz, A. 2005 Intercontinental chemical variation in the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera Formicidae): a key to the invasive success of a tramp species. Naturwissenschaften 92:319-323
Ruano, F., Hefetz, A., Lenoir, A., Francke, W., and Tinaut, A. 2005 Dufour’s gland secretion as repellent used during usurpation in the slave-maker ant Rossomyrmex minuchae. J. of Insect Physiol. 51:1158-1164
Errard, C., Hefetz, A., and Jaisson, P. 2006 Social discrimination tuning and chemical sameness in ants Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 59:353-363
Cruz-L?pez, L., Jackson, B.D., Hefetz, A., and Morgan, E.D. 2006 Tobacco alkaloids in the venom of Messor ants. Biochem. syst. Ecol. 34:199-204
Errard, C., Ruano, F., Richard, F-J, Lenoir, A., Tinaut, A., and Hefetz, A. 2006 Co-evolution-driven cuticular hydrocarbon variation between the slave-making ant Rossomyrmex minuchae and its host Proformica longiseta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Chemoecology 16: 235–240
Richard, F.-J., Poulsen, M., Hefetz A., Errard, C., and Boomsma J. J. 2007 The origin of chemical profiles of fungal symbionts and their significance for nest-mate recognition in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 61:1637–1649
Boulay R., Hefetz, A., Cerd? X., Devers, S., Francke, W., Twele, R., and Lenoir, A., 2007 Production of sexual in a fission-performing ant: dual effects of queen pheromones and colony size. Behav Ecol. Sociobiol. 61:1531–154
Boulay R., Cerda X., Roldan M., Simon T., and Hefetz A. 2007 Intraspecific competition in the ant Camponotus cruentatus: should we expect the “dear enemy” effect? Anim. Behav. 74: 985-993
Hefetz, A. 2007 The evolution of hydrocarbon pheromone parsimony in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) –interplay of colony odor uniformity and odor idiosyncrasy – a review. Myrmecol. News 10: 59-68
Le Conte, Y. and Hefetz, A. 2008 Primer pheromones in social Hymenoptera. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 53:523-542
Bumble bees
Hefetz, A . (1998) Exocrine glands and their products in non- apis bees: chemical, functional and evolutionary perspectives. In Pheromone communication in social insects: Ants, wasps, bees, and termites. Vander Meer, R.K., Breed, M., Winston, M., and Espelie, C. (eds) pp 236-256
Bloch, G., Borst, D.W., Huang, Z.-Y., Robinson, G.E. and Hefetz, A . 1996 Effects of social conditions on JH-mediated reproductive development in Bombus terrestris workers. Physiol. Ent. 21: 257-267
Cnaani, J., Borst, D., Huang, Z.-Y., Robinson, G., and Hefetz, A . 1997 Differences in development and rates of JH biosynthesis between queen and worker larvae in Bombus terrestris . J. Insect Physiol. 43: 373-381
Bloch, G. and Hefetz, A . (1999) Regulation of Reproduction by Dominant Workers in Bumble Bee ( Bombus terrestris ) Queenright Colonies. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 45: 125-135
Bloch, G. and Hefetz, A . (1999) A reevaluation of the role of the mandibular glands in the regulation of reproduction in bumblebee colonies J. Chem. Ecol. 25: 881-896
Bloch, G., Borst, D. W., Huang. Z-Y., Robinson, G. E., Cnaani, J., and Hefetz, A . (2000) JH Titers, JH Biosynthesis, Ovarian Development and Social Environment in Bombus terrestris J. Insect Physiol. 46:47-57
Bloch, G., Hefetz , A . and Hartfelder, K.(2000) Ecdysteroid titer, ovary status, and dominance in adult worker and queen bumble bees ( Bombus terrestris ) J. Insect Physiol 46:1033:1040.
Bloch, G., Simon, T., Robinson, G.E. and Hefetz, A . (2000) Brain Biogenic Amines and Reproductive Dominance in Bumble Bees ( Bombus terrestris) J Comp. Physiol. A 186:261-268
Cnaani, J., Robinson G.E., Bloch G., Borst, D., and Hefetz, A . (2000) The effect of queen-worker conflict on caste determination in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 47:346-352
Hartfelder, K., Cnaani, J., and Hefetz, A . (2000) Caste-specific differences in ecdysteroid titers in early larval stages of the bumble bee Bombus terrestris : Endocrine evidence that caste determination and caste differentiation are distinct processes J. Insect Physiol. 46: 1433-1439
Cnaani, J. Robinson G.E, and Hefetz, A . 2001 The critical period for caste determination in Bombus terrestris and its juvenile hormone correlates. J. Comp. Physiol. 186:1089-1094
Cnaani, J., and Hefetz, A . (2001) Are queen Bombus terrestris giant workers or are workers dwarf queens? Solving the “chicken and egg” problem in a bumblebee species. Naturwissen. 88: 82-84
Alaux C., Jaisson P. and Hefetz A. 2004 Queen influence on worker reproduction in Bombus terrestris colonies (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombinae) Insectes Soc. 51:287-293
Alaux C., Savarit F., Jaisson P. and Hefetz A. 2004 Does the queen win it all? Queen-worker conflict over male production in Bombus terrestris Naturwissenschaften 91:400-403
Alaux C., Jaisson P. and Hefetz A. 2005 Reproductive decision in semelparous social insects: a pace-maker queen in bumblebees colonies Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 59:270-277
Alaux, C., Jaisson, P., and Hefetz, A. 2006 Regulation of worker reproduction in bumblebees: workers eavesdrop on a queen signal Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 60:439-446
Alaux, C., Hefetz, A., and Jaisson, P. 2006 Plasticity of worker reproductive strategies in Bombus terrestris: lessons from artificial mixed-species colonies Anim. Behav. 72:1417-1425
Alaux, C, Boutot, M., Jaisson P, and Hefetz, A. 2007 Reproductive plasticity in Bombus terrestris workers – reversion from fertility to sterility under queen influence. Behav Ecol. Sociobiol. 62:213-222
Honeybees
Katzav-Gozansky T., Soroker V., Cojocaru M., Erdmann D. H., Francke W., and Hefetz, A . (1997) Plasticity of caste specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee ( apis mellifera l.) Naturwissen. 84:238-241
Katzav-Gozansky, T. Soroker, V. and Hefetz, A . Plasticity in caste-related exocrine secretion biosynthesis in the honey bee ( Apis mellifea ). (2000) J. Insect Physiol. 46:993-998
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V., Ionescu, A., Robinson, G. E., and Hefetz, A ., (2001) Task related chemical analysis of worker honeybees’ labial gland secretion. J. Chem. Ecol. 27:919-926
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V., Ibarra, F., Francke, W., and Hefetz, A. 2001 Dufour’s gland secretion of the queen honey bee: an egg discriminator pheromone or a queen signal? Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 51:76-86
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Hefetz A., and Soroker, V. 2002 Evolution of worker sterility in honey bees: Egg-laying workers express queen-like secretion in Dufour’s gland. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. Forum 51:588-589
Katzav-Gozansky, T. Soroker, V. and Hefetz, A. 2002 Honeybees Dufour's gland - idiosyncrasy of a new queen signal. Apidologie 33:525-537
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V., Ibarra, F., Francke, W., and Hefetz, A. 2001 Dufour’s gland secretion of the queen honey bee: an egg discriminator pheromone or a queen signal? Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 51:76-86
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Hefetz A., and Soroker, V. 2002 Evolution of worker sterility in honey bees: Egg-laying workers express queen-like secretion in Dufour’s gland. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. Forum 51:588-589
Katzav-Gozansky, T. Soroker, V. and Hefetz, A. 2002 Honeybees Dufour's gland - idiosyncrasy of a new queen signal. Apidologie 33:525-537
Sole, C.L., Kryger, P., Hefetz, A., Katzav-Gozansky, T., and Crewe , R.M. 2002 Mimicry of queen Dufour’s gland secretions by honey bee workers of Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis . Naturwissen. 89:561-564
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V. and Hefetz, A. 2003 Honeybee egg-laying workers mimic a queen signal. Insect Soc. 50:20-23
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Soroker, V., Kamer, J., Schulz, C., Francke, W., and Hefetz A. 2003 Ultrastructural and chemical characterization of egg surface of honeybee worker and queen-laid eggs. Chemoecology 13: 129-134
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Boulay, R., Soroker, V., and Hefetz, A., 2004 Queen-signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees Proc. Royal Soc Lond. B 271:2065-2069
Dor, R., Katzav-Gozansky, T., and Hefetz, A. 2005 Dufour's gland pheromone as a reliable fertility signal among honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 58:270-276
Katzav-Gozansky T., Boulay R., Soroker V., and Hefetz A. 2006 Queen-signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees J. Comp. Physiol. 192:737-742
Malka, O., Shnior, S., Hefetz, A., and Katzav-Gozanski, T. 2007 Reversible royalty in worker honeybees under the queen influence. Behav Ecol Sociobiol. 61:465–473
Katzav-Gozansky, T., Hefetz, A., and Soroker V. 2007 Brain modulation of Dufour's gland ester biosynthesis in vitro in the honeybee ( Apis mellifera ) Naturwissenschaften 94:407–411
Inbar, S. and Hefetz, A. 2008 Kin composition effects on the reproductive competition among queenless honeybee workers. Naturwissenschaften (DOI 10.1007/s00114-008-0343-6 )
Malka O., Snior, S, Katzav-Gozansky, T, and Hefetz, A. 2008 Aggressive reproductive-competition among hopelessly queenless honeybee workers triggered by pheromone signaling Naturwissenschaften ( 10.1007/s00114-008-0358-z )
