Mixed colonies of two species of congeneric stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apinae, Meliponini) display environmentally-acquired and endogenously-produced recognition signals


Autoria(s): Septanil, Moema P. B.; Mateus, Sidnei; Turatti, Izabel C.; Nunes, Tulio M.
Contribuinte(s)

UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO

Data(s)

24/10/2013

24/10/2013

2012

Resumo

Nestmate recognition is fundamental for the maintenance of social organization in insect nests. It is becoming well recognized that cuticle hydrocarbons mediate the recognition process, although the origin of recognition cues in stingless bees remains poorly explored. The present study investigates the effects of endogenously-produced and environmentally-acquired components in cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bees. The tests are conducted using colonies of Plebeia droryana Friese and Plebeia remota Holmberg. Recognition tests are performed with four different groups: conspecific nestmates, conspecific non-nestmates, heterospecifics and conspecific, genetically-related individuals that emerge in a heterospecific nest. This last group is produced by introducing brood cells of P. droryana into a P. remota colony, and the resulting adult bees are tested for acceptance 10 days after emergence. For all groups, 15 individuals are sampled for chemical analysis. The results show the acceptance of all conspecific nestmates, and the rejection of almost every conspecific non-nestmate and every heterospecific bee. Genetically-related individuals emerging from heterospecific nests present intermediate rejection (66.7% rejection). Chemical analysis shows that P. droryana individuals emerging in a P. remota nest have small amounts of alkene and diene isomers found in P. remota cuticle that are not found in workers from the natal nest. The data clearly show that the majority of the compounds present in P. droryana cuticle are endogenously produced, although a few unsaturated compounds are acquired from the environment, increasing the chemical differences and, consequently, the rejection percentages.

FAPESP

FAPESP [Proc. 2007/59058-7]

Identificador

PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, MALDEN, v. 37, n. 1, supl. 1, Part 1, pp. 72-80, MAR, 2012

0307-6962

http://www.producao.usp.br/handle/BDPI/36017

10.1111/j.1365-3032.2011.00825.x

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3032.2011.00825.x

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

WILEY-BLACKWELL

MALDEN

Relação

PHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY

Direitos

closedAccess

Copyright WILEY-BLACKWELL

Palavras-Chave #ALKENES #CHEMICAL ECOLOGY #DIENES #GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY #HYDROCARBON #NESTMATE RECOGNITION #NESTMATE RECOGNITION #KIN RECOGNITION #APIS-MELLIFERA #HONEY-BEES #GUARD HONEYBEES #WAX COMB #APIDAE #CUES #DISCRIMINATION #HYDROCARBONS #ENTOMOLOGY
Tipo

article

original article

publishedVersion