R.A. Pereira, M.M. Morais, F.S. Nascimento, L.R. Bego
Published: June 23, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (2) : 725-729
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr034
Cite this Article:
R.A. Pereira, M.M. Morais, F.S. Nascimento, L.R. Bego (2009). Intrinsic colony conditions affect the provisioning and oviposition process in the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. Genet. Mol. Res. 8(2): 725-729. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr034
About the Authors
R.A. Pereira,M.M. Morais,F.S. Nascimento,L.R. Bego
Corresponding author
F.S. Nascimento
E-mail: fabio.nascimento@pesquisador.cnpq.br
ABSTRACT
The cell provisioning and oviposition process (POP) is a unique characteristic of stingless bees (Meliponini), in which coordinated interactions between workers and queen regulate the filling of brood cells with larval resources and subsequent egg laying. Environmental conditions seem to regulate reproduction in stingless bees; however, little is known about how the amount of food affects quantitative sequences of the process. We examined intrinsic variables by comparing three colonies in distinct conditions (strong, intermediate and weak state). We predicted that some of these variables are correlated with temporal events of POP in Melipona scutellaris colonies. The results demonstrated that the strong colony had shorter periods of POP
Key words: Stingless bees, Provisioning and oviposition process, Food storage, Melipona.