Evidence of hybridization between two species of Melipona bees

Abstract

This report describes a case of hybridization between two species of Meliponinae bees (Melipona scutellaris from the Diamantina plateau in the State of Bahia, and Melipona capixaba from around Domingos Martins, in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil). To demonstrate hybridization, electrophoretic profiles of esterase activity from three colonies were studied. Ten adult workers of M. scutellaris, M. capixaba and the hybrid colony were collected and processed individually. The pattern of esterase activity was constant for each species but differed between them, whereas hybrid bees had a pattern derived from both species. The fact that two ecologically different species of stingless bees separated by more than 300 km could still cross when placed in the same area suggests that there has not been any pressure to develop reproductive isolation.

Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA characterization in the Melipona species (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) by RFLP analysis

“…The genetic proximity of these species was also observed by R ocha and P ompolo (1998) and R ocha et al (2002) based on karyotype analysis. Furthermore, M. scutellaris and M. capixaba are able to cross and produce fertile hybrids (N ascimento et al 2000). The CO‐I/CO‐II restriction profiles of the species M. marginata , M. eburnea , M. crinita and M. flavolineata were very similar to those obtained for M. rufiventris , M. scutellaris , M. capixaba, and M. seminigra indicating a considerable genetic proximity between them.…”

Pollen Sources forMelipona capixabaMoure & Camargo: An Endangered Brazilian Stingless Bee

“…Experiments proved that the lack of anatomical or behavioural isolation mechanisms allowed the crossing of these species when they were brought into the same area. These observations suggest that the two species are capable of forming fertile hybrids [4]. The fact that two ecologically different species of stingless bees, separated by more than 300 km, could still cross when placed in the same area suggests that there has not been any pressure to develop reproductive isolation [4].…”

“…These observations suggest that the two species are capable of forming fertile hybrids [4]. The fact that two ecologically different species of stingless bees, separated by more than 300 km, could still cross when placed in the same area suggests that there has not been any pressure to develop reproductive isolation [4]. However, M. capixaba is mentioned on the list of Endangered Brazilian species (Normative Instructions no.…”

“…3, May 27th 2003, Ministry of Environment) because its original habitat has been almost completely fragmented to make room to pastureland, coffee (Coffea sp), and Eucalytus sp cultivars. Currently only 10% of the original Atlantic Rainforest remains and has become a "hot spot" for this bee [4,5].…”

Sperm Parasitism in Ants: Selection for Interspecific Mating and Hybridization

“…Sperm parasitism may be more likely to arise in ants than in other eusocial Hymenoptera; I know of no really good candidate cases in wasps or bees, although a hybridization case reported in Melipona by Nascimento et al (2000) might merit further study. The eusocial wasps and bees are much less taxonomically diverse than ants (Wilson 1971), and, in many species, their workers are more likely to produce a large proportion of the males (Bourke 1988).…”