S.D. Hilário, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca
Published: June 09, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (2) : 664-671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr029
Cite this Article:
S.D. Hilário, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca (2009). Pollen foraging in colonies of Melipona bicolor (Apidae, Meliponini): effects of season, colony size and queen number. Genet. Mol. Res. 8(2): 664-671. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-2kerr029
About the Authors
S.D. Hilário,V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca
Corresponding author
S.D. Hilário
e-mail: sedilar@usp.br
ABSTRACT
We evaluated the ratio between the number of pollen foragers and the total number of bees entering colonies of Melipona bicolor, a facultative polygynous species of stingless bees. The variables considered in our analysis were: seasonality, colony size and the number of physogastric queens in each colony. The pollen forager ratios varied significantly between seasons; the ratio was higher in winter than in summer. However, colony size and number of queens per colony had no significant effect. We conclude that seasonal differences in pollen harvest are related to the production of sexuals and to the number of individuals and their body size.
Key words: Stingless bees, Melipona bicolor, pollen foragers, colony size, queen numbers, seasonality, Stingless bees.