Behavioural development and abdomen inflation of gynes and newly mated queens of Melipona beecheii (Apidae, Meliponinae)

Abstract

The behaviour of gynes of Melipona beecheii in queen-deprived colonies was studied. The period after emergence until acceptance is characterized by agonistic behaviour of workers towards the gynes. The gynes escaped from this worker aggression by hiding in the periphery of the nest, by performing rapid turn-arounds once grabbed by a worker, and "feigning death". Between acceptance and nuptial flight, gynes spent most of their time in pushing, hiding, and antennal contact with workers, and self-grooming or food solicitation. After the nuptial flight the queen's behavioural repertoire shifted to less pushing and food solicitation, to an increase in standing, tapping and antennal contact.Accepted gynes had a significantly more prolonged abdomen inflation than gynes that were eliminated.An hypothesis is presented to explain how abdomen enlargement and behavioural development influences the acceptance of gynes and the establishment of a dominance relation with workers under queenless conditions.

Queen Execution and Caste Conflict in the Stingless Bee Melipona beecheii

“…Importantly, queens were not passive victims in this cull. They frequently were observed fleeing and hiding from workers and even feigning death (also observed by van Veen et al 1999).…”

Group decision making during queen production in colonies of highly eusocial bees

“…Both stingless bee and honey bee workers typically bite, chase, and grab gynes soon after they emerge (Sakagami, 1982;Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi, 1995;Gilley, 2001). In Melipona beecheii, gynes that are grabbed and pulled by the workers are killed by them within 20 hours of emergence (van Veen et al, 1999). In other stingless bees, anywhere from a few to dozens of workers may completely dismember virgin queens by twisting off their heads and other body parts (Michener, 1974;Sakagami, 1982;Koedam et al, 1995), and then deposit their remains in the waste dump (Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi, 1995).…”

“…Gynes are produced continuously, perhaps as a means to constantly test the quality of the mother queen and replace her with a daughter of higher reproductive quality (van Benthem et al, 1995). There is evidence for differential treatment of gynes in Melipona beecheii, where gynes that inflate their abdomens for longer durations are more attractive to workers and are eliminated significantly less often (van Veen et al, 1999). Abdomen inflation may release a pheromone that indicates a gyne's reproductive potential, and so the behavior may be an honest signal of her quality.…”

The relationship between queen execution and cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bee Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Meliponini)

“…However, when they reach 3-8 days of age, they begin to move more quickly around the nest, requesting food from workers through antennae contact (Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi 1995). This behavior is likely related to an attempt to be accepted as a new queen (Silva et al 1972;Van Veen et al 1999). These virgin queens are attacked and killed or driven from the colony by the workers (Kerr et al 1962).…”

“…These virgin queens are attacked and killed or driven from the colony by the workers (Kerr et al 1962). In M. marginata and M. beecheii, workers also kill the most active virgin queens, while ignoring queens that move less (Kleinert and Imperatriz-Fonseca 1994;Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi 1995;Van Veen et al 1999;Jarau et al 2009). On the other hand, differences in cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) produced by virgin queens of different ages might be involved in their recognition by workers.…”