Movatterモバイル変換

[0]ホーム
URL:

Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Biology of the stingless beePlebeia remota (Holmberg): observations and evolutionary implications

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Insectes Sociaux Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The genusPlebeia has a special significance for the study of social evolution of stingless bees: morphologically primitive, its species display a wealth of behavioural evolution, especially with respect to the oviposition process. We comparePlebeia remota with the few other members of the genus studied so far.

Related to its subtropical geographical range, brood production is seasonal (there is no brood in the colony in colder months), and adult workers occur as summer and winter bees. The nest is in tree cavities, and the involucrum is absent or restricted to the winter period. Brood cells are arranged in horizontal combs, and new cells are built completely synchronously. Each series consists of up to 50 cells, their number being mainly dependent on colony size. Construction speed is remarkably constant, allowing 4–6 batches per 24 hours. Cell building and provisioning are activities of a small group of specialized workers.

The oviposition cycle follows the classical subdivisions for stingless bees. During the patrolling phase a worker may “offer” a trophic egg in a most remarkable way: while retreating backward from the queen she bends the abdomen under thorax and head, and lays an egg on the comb. This egg is eaten by the queen or a worker.

The provisioning, oviposition and operculation of all cells occur simultaneously, each cell is provisioned by 4–9 workers. Localization of a cell by the queen may be facilitated by its characteristic guard, which “defends” the cell against the approaching queen. The degree of synchronization within a batch is very high: the duration per cell lasts 420–950 sec, the batch of up till 50 cells needs only 557–1160 sec. Operculation is done by a worker that was not involved in the previous steps.

Males are generally produced by the queen. Several male producing cycles per year occur. In orphan colonies laying workers give rise to males, and in queenright colonies workers may occasionally reproduce as well.

Division of labour follows the general pattern for stingless bees; however, cell building and provisioning are activities of a specialized group of workers.

This is a preview of subscription content,log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
¥17,985 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Japan)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akahira, Y., S. F. Sakagami and R. Zucchi, 1970. Die Nähreier von den Arbeiterinnen einer stachellosen Biene,Trigona (Scaptotrigona)postica, die von der Königin kurz vor der eigenen Eiablage gefressen werden.Zool. Anz., Leipzig 185:85–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bego, L. R., 1990. On social regulation inNannotrigona (Scaptotrigona)postica Latreille, with special reference to productivity of colonies (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae).Revta. bras. Ent. 34:721–738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beig, D., 1972. The production of males in queenright colonies ofTrigona (Scaptotrigona)postica. J.Apic. Res. 11:33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camargo, J. M. E. 1989. Comentário sobre a sistematica de Meliponinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae).XVI Simpósio Anual da Academia de Ciências do Estado de Sõ Paulo.68 (Supl.): 41–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camargo, J. M. F. and S. R. M. Pedro, 1992. Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography of Meliponinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae): a mini-review.Apidologie 23:509–522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camargo, J. M.F. and D. Wittmann, 1989. Nest architecture and distribution of the primitive stingless bee,Mourella caerulea (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae): evidence for the origin ofPlebeia (s. lat.) on the Gondwana Continent.Stud. Neotrop. Fauna & Environ. 24:213–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceccato, S., 1970. Divisão de trabalho entre as operárias deMelipona rufiventris flavolineata Friese (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). São Paulo Dissertaçâo de Mestrado. Depto. de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, U.S.P., 30 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortopassi-Laurino, M., 1979. Observações sobre as atividades de machos dePlebeia droryana Friese (Apidae, Meliponinae).Rev. bras. Ent. 23:177–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drumond, P. M., 1993.Estudos bionômicos em Plebeia poecilochroa (Moure & Camargo, in litt.) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). MSc thesis Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, W. and V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, 1990. Caste development, reproductive strategies and control of fertility in honeybees and stingless bees. In W. Engels, Ed., Social Insects: an evolutionary approach to castes and reproduction. Springer Verlag, 167–230.

  • Hebling, N. J., W. E. Kerr and F. S. Kerr, 1964. Divisão de trabalho entre as operárias deTrigona (Scaptotrigona)xanthotricha (Moure).Papeis avulsos Depto. Zool. Secr. Agr. 16:115–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L. and M. A. C. Oliveira, 1974. Observations on a queenless colony ofPlebeia saiqui (Friese) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae).Bolm. Zool. Univ S. Paulo 1:299–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L., M. A. C. Oliveira and E. S. Iwama, 1975. Notes sobre o comportamento dePlebeia (Plebeia) remota Holmberg (Apidae, Meliponinae).Ciência e Cultura, 27:665–669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L., A. Kleinert-Giovannini and J. T. Pires, 1985. Climate variations influence on flight activity ofPlebeia remota (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae).Revta. bras. Ent. 29:427–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, W. E. and G. R. dos Santos Neto, 1956. Contribuição para o conhecimento da bionomia dos Meliponini. 5. Divisão de trabalho entre as operárias deMelipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata Lep.Ins. Soc. 3:423–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michener, C. D., 1990. Classification of the Apidae (Hymenoptera).Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull, 54:75–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moure, J. S., 1961. A preliminary supraspecific classification of the Old World Meliponinae bees.Stud. Entomol. 4:181–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramalho, M., V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, A. Kleinert-Giovannini and M. Cortopassi-Laurino, 1985. Exploitation of floral resources byPlebeia remota Holmberg (Apidae, Meliponinae).Apidologie 16:307–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roubik, D. W., 1983. Nest and colony characteristics of stingless bees from Panama (Hymenoptera, Apidae).J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 56:327–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F., 1966. Techniques for the observation of behavior and social organization of stingless bees by using a special hive.Pap. Avulsos Zool., S. Paulo 19:151–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F., 1982. Stingless bees. In: Hermann, H. R. (ed.) Social Insects. New York,Academic Press, III:361–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F., D. Beig, R. Zucchi and Y. Akahira, 1963. Occurrence of ovary developed workers in queenright colonies of stingless bees.Rev. bras. Biol. 23:115–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F., C. Camillo and R. Zucchi, 1973. Oviposition behaviour of a brazilian stingless bee,Plebeia (Friesella)schrottkyii, with some remarks on the behavioural evolution in stingless bees. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ., Ser. VI, Zool.19:163–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F. and R. Zucchi, 1974. Oviposition behaviour of two dwarf stingless bees,Hypotrigona (Leurotrigona)muelleri andHypotrigona (Trigonisca)duckei, with notes on the temporal articulation of oviposition process in stingless bees. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ., Ser. VI,Zool, 19:361–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakagami, S. F., R. Zucchi and V. Portugal-Araujo, 1977. Oviposition behaviour inMeliponula bocandei, an aberrant african stingless bee, with notes on the mechanism and evolution of oviposition behaviour in stingless bees. J. Fac. Sci. Hokkaido Univ. Ser. VI,Zool. 20:647–690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommeijer, M. J., 1984. Distribution of labour among workers ofMelipona favosa F: age polyethism and worker oviposition.Ins. Soc. 31:171–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommeijer, M. J., 1985. The social behaviour ofMelipona favosa F: some aspects of the activity of the queen in the nest.J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 58:386–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommeijer, M. J., J. L. Houtekamer and W. Bos, 1984. Cell construction and egg laying inTrigona nigra var.paupera Provancher, with a note on the adaptative significance of the typical oviposition behaviour of stingless bees.Ins. Soc. 31:199–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terada, Y., 1980. Estudos bionômicos em colonias dePlebeia (Plebeia)droryana Friese, 1900 (Hymenoptera, Meliponinae) na região de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo. PhD. thesis, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, 185 p.

  • Terada, Y., C. Garófalo and S. F. Sakagami, 1975. Age survival curves for workers of two eusocial bees (Apismellifera andPlebeia droryana) in a subtropical climate, with notes on worker polyethism inP. droryana.J. Apic. Res. 14:161–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wille, A., 1969. A new species of stingless beeTrigona (Plebeia) from Costa Rica, with descriptions of its general behaviour and cluster type nest.Rev. Biol. Trop. 15:299–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winston, M. L. and C. D. Michener, 1977. Dual origin of highly social behaviour among bees.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74:1135–1137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittmann, D., 1989. Nest architecture, nest site preferences and distributionof Plebeia wittmanni in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (Apidae: Meliponinae).Stud. Neotrop. Fauna & Environ. 24:17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucchi, R., 1977. Aspectos etológico — evolutivos da bionomia do's Meliponinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Ribeirão Preto, USP, 204 p. Tese (Livre-docência). Depto. Biologia, Fac. Fil. Ciênc. e Letras.

  • Zucchi, R., 1993. Ritualized dominance, evolution of queen-worker interactions and related aspects in stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). In:Evolution of Insect Societies (T. Inoue & S. Yamane, Eds), pp 207–249.

  • Zucchi, R., 1994. A evolução do processo de tratamento das células de cria de Meliponinae: do antagonisme à dominância ritualizada (Hymenoptera, Apidae). In: R. Zucchi et al., Eds., Anais do 1. Encontro sobre Abelhas, p. 38–45, Legis Summa ltda, Ribeirão Preto.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecologia Geral, Institute de Biociências, Universidade de São Paula, CP 11.461, CEP 05508-900, São Paula, Brasil

    F. D. J. van Benthem & V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca

  2. Ethologie & Socio-oecologie, Vakgroep Vergelijkende Fysiologie, Universiteit Utrecht, P.O.B. 80.086, 3508, Utrecht, TB, The Netherlands

    F. D. J. van Benthem & H. H. W. Velthuis

Authors
  1. F. D. J. van Benthem

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. H. W. Velthuis

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Benthem, F.D.J., Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. & Velthuis, H.H.W. Biology of the stingless beePlebeia remota (Holmberg): observations and evolutionary implications.Ins. Soc42, 71–87 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245700

Download citation

Key words

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
¥17,985 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Japan)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Advertisement

[8]ページ先頭
©2009-2025 Movatter.jp