Bees for Development: Brazilian Survey Reveals How to Optimize Stingless Beekeeping

Jaffé, Rodolfo; Pope, Nathaniel S.; Carvalho, Alysson Massote; Maia, Ulysses Madureira; Blochtein, Betina; Carvalho, Carlos Alfredo Lopes de; Carvalho‐Zilse, Gislene Almeida; Freitas, Breno Magalhães; Menezes, Cristiano; Ribeiro, M. de F.; Venturieri, G. C.; Imperatriz-Fonseca, Vera Lúcia

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121157

Cited by 143 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Much practical and academic work is being done about the best ways of keeping these bees, multiplying their colonies, and exploring the honey they produce (Cortopassi-Laurino et al., 2006, Villanueva-Gutiérrez et al., 2013, Jaffé et al., 2015). Melipona scutellaris is most known in the Northeast of Brazil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic analysis of Monascus and new species from honey, pollen and nests of stingless bees

Barbosa¹,

Leong²,

Pettersson³

et al. 2017

Studies in Mycology

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The genus Monascus was described by van Tieghem (1884) to accommodate M. ruber and M. mucoroides, two species with non-ostiolate ascomata. Species delimitation in the genus is still mainly based on phenotypic characters, and taxonomic studies that include sequence data are limited. The genus is of economic importance. Species are used in fermented Asian foods as food colourants (e.g. ‘red rice’ (ang-kak, angka)) and found as spoilage organisms, and recently Monascus was found to be essential in the lifecycle of stingless bees. In this study, a polyphasic approach was applied combining morphological characters, ITS, LSU, β-tubulin, calmodulin and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit sequences and extrolite data, to delimit species and to study phylogenetic relationships in Monascus. Furthermore, 30 Monascus isolates from honey, pollen and nests of stingless bees in Brazil were included. Based on this polyphasic approach, the genus Monascus is resolved in nine species, including three new species associated with stingless bees (M. flavipigmentosus sp. nov., M. mellicola sp. nov., M. recifensis sp. nov., M. argentinensis, M. floridanus, M. lunisporas, M. pallens, M. purpureus, M. ruber), and split in two new sections (section Floridani sect. nov., section Rubri sect. nov.). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the xerophile Monascus eremophilus does not belong in Monascus and monophyly in Monascus is restored with the transfer of M. eremophilus to Penicillium (P. eremophilum comb. nov.). A list of accepted and excluded Monascus and Basipetospora species is given, together with information on (ex-)types cultures and barcode sequence data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic analysis of Monascus and new species from honey, pollen and nests of stingless bees

Barbosa¹,

Leong²,

Pettersson³

et al. 2017

Studies in Mycology

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“…However, we have still In vitro rearing of bee queens dozens of stingless bee species kept in hives demanding more efforts and technology for a successful management (Cortopassi-Laurino et al 2006;Contrera et al 2011;Jaffé et al 2015). For these bees, the scarcity of queen-rearing methods has been an important technical bottleneck (Cortopassi-Laurino et al 2006;Jaffé et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the management and propagation of stingless bee colonies may be greatly compromised because there are not sufficient queens to head new colonies (Jaffé et al 2015). Thus, the mass rearing of virgin queens may offer a means to overcome the low natural production of virgin queens in most stingless bee genera, and therefore increase the number of new colonies that can be used to restore adequate pollination in natural ecosystems or crops (Cortopassi-Laurino et al 2006;Contrera et al 2011;Jaffé et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro rearing of stingless bee queens and their acceptance rate into colonies

Santos

Blochtein

2015

Apidologie

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-The in vitro rearing of queen bees can improve the management and conservation of pollinator insects. Here, we have developed an in vitro queen-rearing protocol for Plebeia droryana (Apidae, Meliponini). Firstly, we evaluated the amount of food offered naturally to P. droryana queen larvae. After, we grafted P. droryana larvae onto acrylic plates which were kept in constant darkness at 25°C and different relative humidity along larval development. We also compared intertegular distance of P. droryana queens reared in vitro and naturally. We then tested whether queens reared in vitro would be accepted into new colonies with older and/ or callow workers. We found that P. droryana larvae developed into queens if fed with 66 μL of larval food. The survival rate of P. droryana queens was >75 %. The queens reared in vitro are similar in size to naturally produced ones. Finally, colonies only containing callow workers are more likely to accept queens reared in vitro. This queen-rearing technique may improve beekeeping practices in the Neotropical Region.bees / beneficial arthropods / caste determination / crops / pollinators / queen production / virgin queens

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“…Stingless beekeeping (meliponiculture) has become increasingly popular (Kerr 1997;Cortopassi-Laurino et al 2006;Jaffé et al 2015). The honey, wax, propolis and pollination services in greenhouses have motivated the commercialization of nests and nuclei (small incipient colonies) (Nogueira-Neto 1997;Cortopassi-Laurino et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic variability in captive populations of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula

et al. 2016

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Low genetic variability has normally been considered a consequence of animal husbandry and a major contributing factor to declining bee populations. Here, we performed a molecular analysis of captive and wild populations of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula, one of the most commonly kept species across South America. Microsatellite analyses showed similar genetic variability between wild and captive populations However, captive populations showed lower mitochondrial genetic variability. Male-mediated gene flow, transport and division of nests are suggested as the most probable explanations for the observed patterns of genetic structure. We conclude that increasing the number of colonies kept through nest divisions does not negatively affect nuclear genetic variability, which seems to be maintained by small-scale male dispersal and human-mediated nest transport. However, the transport of nests from distant localities should be practiced with caution given the high genetic differentiation observed between samples from western and eastern areas. The high genetic structure verified is the result of a long-term evolutionary process, and bees from distant localities may represent unique evolutionary lineages.

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Bees for Development: Brazilian Survey Reveals How to Optimize Stingless Beekeeping

Cited by 143 publications

References 33 publications

Phylogenetic analysis of Monascus and new species from honey, pollen and nests of stingless bees

Phylogenetic analysis of Monascus and new species from honey, pollen and nests of stingless bees

In vitro rearing of stingless bee queens and their acceptance rate into colonies

Genetic variability in captive populations of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula

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