Temporal and morphological differences in post-embryonic differentiation of the mushroom bodies in the brain of workers, queens, and drones of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphomettic changes on honeybee Apis mellifera L. workers fat body cells after juvenile hormone topic application at emergence

The effect of topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) over the lifetime of worker bees was evaluated in Apis mellifera, by measuring the area of the two cell types, trophocytes and oenocytes, found in the fat body. Topical application of 1 mu l of a 1 mu g/mu l solution of JH in acetone to the abdomens of newly emerged workers produced an increase in cell size, in both types of cell of 5-day-old treated workers in relation to the untreated control. The treatment was more effective on the oenocytes, since there were significant differences compared to the averages of the treatments and the interaction of the treatments with the age of the workers. The developmental pattern seemed to differ from the treated group. However, subsequent effects were probably dependent on different, natural variations in hormonal levels. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrastructural studies of the mandibular gland of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, 1836 (Apidae, Meliponini): a comparison between workers and queens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultrastructural analysis of the fat body in workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

In the present study a comparative morphological analysis of the fat body cells of ant workers of the basal Attini species Cyphomyrmex rimosus and Mycetarotesparallelus, and the derived species Acromynnex disciger and Atta laevigata was conducted. The results revealed that the fat body is located mainly in the abdomen around organs (perivisceral) and near the integument (parietal). The main cells observed are spherical or polygonal trophocytes with a slightly rough surface. The oenocytes, another cell type found, are closely associated with trophocytes, and present a spherical or polygonal shape and a smoother surface. The morphometric analysis showed that the area of trophocytes and oenocytes of C rimosus and M parallelus is significantly smaller when compared to those of A. disciger and A. laevigata. In the cytoplasm of parietal and perivisceral trophocytes and oenocytes, electronlucent droplets (probably lipids) and electrondense granules (probably proteins) indicate the participation of these cells in the storage of these elements, while digestive vacuoles, residual bodies, and multivesicular bodies suggest a role in intracellular digestion. In perivisceral trophocytes and oenocytes of C rimosus, the presence of mitochondria, lamellar rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex suggests that these cells synthesize proteins. Based on these data, no significant differences were observed between the fat body cells of basal and derived ants, except regarding the larger size of trophocytes and oenocytes of the derived species A. disciger and A. laevigata. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009

Effects of Natural Infestations of the Mite Varroa destructor on the Development of Africanized Honeybee Workers (Apis mellifera)

The mite Varroa destructor (Anderson & Treuman 2000) has caused extensive damage to beekeeping worldwide. In Brazil, weather conditions and the strains of bees do not provide ideal conditions for mite parasitism, which is reflected in the low number of deaths of colonies caused by varroatosis well as the stability of infestation levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the damage caused by the mite infestation in hives maintained in natural conditions. For this purpose the number of mites per bee was calculated and used to quantify the level of infestation in each colony. To record the mortality rates of parasitized bees during development daily checks were performed. The data were analyzed by G test of independence and a Test of Proportions. The results indicate that the rate of mortality of pupae and larvae was proportional to the degree of infestation in each colony, and all colonies showed mortality rates significantly higher than the control rate. A significant interaction among death rates recorded between the third and fourth days of larval life and the total death of larvae was found (G Test = 50.22; P < 0.0001). So, it can be concluded that bee inbreeding contributed significantly to the increase of the larval rate of mortality. In Africanized honeybee colonies infested by the mite Varroa destructor mortality rates in conditions of natural infestation varied from 6.65 to 9.89% in pupae (<(x)over bar>= 8.78%) and from 6.13 to 13.48% in larvae ((x) over bar = 9.91%), against 3.85% and 3.74% in the control colony, respectively. Therefore, in the infested colonies the average rates of mortality caused by the harmful effects of the mite were, respectively, 2.28 times and 2.65 times greater in those two developmental stages.

Histochemistry and Protein Profile of The Venom Glands of Workers of Neoponera villosa Ants (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of paprika on the ovarian development of Africanized honeybee workers (Apis mellifera L.) in queenless colonies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Differences in mushroom bodies morphogenesis in workers, queens and drones of Apis mellifera: Neuroblasts proliferation and death

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Description of the Immatures of Workers of the Ant Linepithema micans Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Description of the Immatures of Workers of the Weaver Ant, Camponotus textor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Profiling the proteome complement of the secretion from hypopharyngeal gland of Africanized nurse-honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

The protein complement of the secretion from hypopharyngeal gland of nurse-bees (Apis mellifera L.) was partially identified by using a combination of 2D-PAGE, peptide sequencing by MALDI-PSD/MS and a protein engine identification tool applied to the honeybee genome. The proteins identified were compared to those proteins already identified in the proteome complement of the royal jelly of the honey bees. The 2D gel electrophoresis demonstrated this protein complement is constituted of 61 different polypepides, from which 34 were identified as follows: 27 proteins belonged to MRJPs family, 5 proteins were related to the metabolism of carbohydrates and to the oxido-reduction metabolism of energetic Substrates, I protein was related to the accumulation of iron in honeybee bodies and I protein may be a regulator of MRJP-1 oligomerization. The proteins directly involved with the carbohydrates and energetic metabolisms were: alpha glucosidase, glucose oxidase and alpha amylase, whose are members of the same family of enzymes, catalyzing the hydrolysis of the glucosidic linkages of starch; alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, whose are constituents of the energetic metabolism. The results of the present manuscript support the hypothesis that the most of these proteins are produced in the hypoharyngeal gland of nurse-bees and secreted into the RJ. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mitosis and cell death in the optic lobes of workers, queens and drones of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) during metamorphosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Description of the immatures of workers of the Ant Camponotus vittatus (Hymenoptera: formicidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Differential flight muscle development in workers, queens and males of the eusocial bees, Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona postica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Morphologic and morphometric aspects of oenocytes of Apis mellifera queens and workers in different phases of life

Oenocytes of adult workers and queens of Apis mellifera L. were studied in different ages or life stages, by means of morphometric and histologic techniques. In workers, the oenocytes were found in the head, near the mandibles and in the abdomen, immersed in the parietal fat body mainly below the sterna, close to the wax gland. In queens, two populations of oenocytes different in size and localization were found within the parietal and visceral fat body, respectively. The oenocytes of workers and queens show the presence of acid lipids and acid phosphatase. The role of these cells in the castes differences is discussed.