THE EVOLUTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF POLLEN USE AS PROTEIN RESOURCE BY TRIGONINI BEES (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE, MELIPONINAE)

The origin of bees was marked by the change from the use of animal of vegetal protein to feed the larvae. The advantages of this change and the existence of some necrophagous species among the bees is discussed regarding to the poor digestibility of pollen.

Dwarf gynes in Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Apidae, Meliponinae, Trigonini). Behaviour, exocrine gland morphology and reproductive status

The behaviour and morphology of dwarf gynes produced in worker-sized cells of normal colonies in Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Meliponinae, Trigonini) were studied. The behaviour of these dwarf virgin queens was the same as observed for normal Trigonine gynes. The glandular equipment is also the same: Dufour glands, fat bodies and spermathecae are present. Despite these similarities, their ovaries are different. The functional significance of dwarf gynes is unknown, but may be a basis for an alternative reproductive strategy.

Electrophoretic analysis of the protein in the midgut of stingless bees (Apidae; Meliponinae) with a comparison of necrophagous and feeding pollen workers

SDS electrophoresis of midgut proteins from two Trigonini species with different feeding habits shows many similarities and the absence of unique protein in the necrophagous stingless bee Trigona hypogea, suggesting that biochemical adaptation to necrophagy, in this bee, occurs more in the qualitative than in quantitative level. Workers of different ages display some variations in the midgut protein pattern, suggesting that it is important to know the age in studies regarding to bee digestion.