P. Nunes-Silva, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, L.S. Gonçalves
Published: June 02, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (2) : 649-654
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr026
Cite this Article:
P. Nunes-Silva, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, L.S. Gonçalves (2009). Hygienic behavior of the stingless bee Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini). Genet. Mol. Res. 8(2): 649-654. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr026
About the Authors
P. Nunes-Silva, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, L.S. Gonçalves
Corresponding author
P. Nunes-Silva
E-mail: pnsilva@ib.usp.br
ABSTRACT
We investigated hygienic behavior in 10 colonies of Plebeia remota, using the pin-killed method. After 24 h the bees had removed a mean of 69.6% of the dead brood. After 48 h, the bees had removed a mean of 96.4% of the dead brood. No significant correlation was found between the size of the brood comb and the number of dead pupae removed, and there was no apparent effect of the origin and the condition of the colony on the hygienic behavior of the bees. Plebeia remota has an efficiency of hygienic behavior superior to that of three of the other four stingless bee species studied until now.
Key words: Stingless bees, Hygienic behavior,Plebeia remota, Stingless bees.