Colony homeostasis

Interaction and behavior of virgin and physogastric queens in three Meliponini species (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

F. H. Nogueira-Ferreira, Silva-Matos, E. V., and Zucchi, R., Interaction and behavior of virgin and physogastric queens in three Meliponini species (Hymenoptera, Apidae), vol. 8, pp. 703-708, 2009.

We studied the behavior of virgin queens of the stingless bee species Schwarziana quadripunctata, Paratrigona lineata and Tetragona clavipes, investigating internal nest activities, including the cell provisioning and oviposition process. We made direct observation of queen behavior, with the aid of video filming. Forty-four virgin queens of S. quadripunctata were observed; one was larger and more attractive than the others. Miniature queens were more abundant than normal-size queens; both were found in prison chambers.

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