Foraging loads of stingless bees and utilisation of stored nectar for pollen harvesting

Leonhardt, Sara D.; Dworschak, Kai; Eltz, Thomas; Blüthgen, Nico

doi:10.1051/apido:2006059

Cited by 60 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…This is the minimum sample volume required by our refractometer for accurate measurement of the solution's concentration. Concentrations with less than 2 % of sugar were considered to be "water" (Leonhardt et al 2007). …”

Section: B) Water Collection Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and developmental responses of a stingless bee (Scaptotrigona depilis) to nest overheating

2014

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-In this study, we investigate the behavioural response of the highly eusocial stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis to high temperatures. We found that nest temperature in the brood area can be up to 2.5°C lower relative to a control empty box during hot periods. We showed that high temperatures increase both water collection and wing fanning behaviour at the colony level, suggesting that these behaviours are adaptations to cooling the nest in this species. Additionally, we measured survival and development time of pupae incubated at five different constant temperatures (22, 26, 30, 34 and 38°C). We found that the development time of S. depilis brood significantly varied between treatments and had a strong negative correlation with temperature. Brood survived over a large range of incubation temperatures; however, extreme temperatures (22 and 38°C) were almost 100 % lethal, highlighting the importance of thermoregulation, at least in extreme conditions. social thermoregulation / nest cooling / water foraging / Scaptotrigona depilis

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Section: B) Water Collection Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and developmental responses of a stingless bee (Scaptotrigona depilis) to nest overheating

2014

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“…In particular, we examined the distribution of terpenoids that appear to be common in the chemical profile of SoutheastAsian meliponines, but are not found in neotropical stingless bee species (Abdalla et al, 2003;Jungnickel et al, 2004;Kerr et al, 2004;Nunes et al, 2008), let alone any other social insect. These terpenoids are likely to be derived from plant resins, which are known to contain terpenes and are frequently collected and used for nest construction and defence by Bornean stingless bees (Leonhardt et al, 2007;Leonhardt and Blüthgen, 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

2009

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Insects may be unique in having a cuticle with a species-specific chemical profile. In social insects, colony survival depends not only on species-specific but also on colony-specific cuticular compounds with hydrocarbons playing an important role in the communication systems of ants, termites, wasps and bees. We investigated inter-and intraspecific differences in the composition of compounds found on the body surface of seven paleotropical stingless bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) at two different sites in Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia). Besides hydrocarbons, the body surface of all seven stingless bee species comprised terpenoid compounds, a substance class that has not been reported for chemical profiles of any social insect so far. Moreover, the chemical profile of some species differed fundamentally in the composition of terpenoids with one group (e.g. sesquiterpenes) being present in one species, but missing in another. Chemical profiles of different colonies from the same species showed the same hydrocarbonand terpenoid compounds over different regions, as tested for Tetragonilla collina and Tetragonula melanocephala. However, chemical profiles differed quantitatively between the different colonies especially in T. melanocephala. It is likely that the terpenoids are derived from plant resins because stingless bees are known to collect and use large amounts of resins for nest construction and defence, suggesting an environmental origin of the terpenoids in the chemical profile of paleotropical stingless bees.

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“…During pollen collection at flowers, foragers add nectar (sugars) to the pollen to increase adhesion of the pollen load to the corbicula (Herbert and Shimanuki 1978;Leonhardt et al 2007). Moreover, fermented stored pollen could present higher sugar levels due to possible addition of nectar or honey prior to storage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This process facilitates pollen adhesion to the corbicula (Herbert and Shimanuki 1978;Leonhardt et al 2007). Vásquez and Olofsson (2009) observed bacteria from the honey stomach of honey bees in newly collected pollen as well as in pollen stored in the nest, which suggests that worker bees may inoculate microorganisms in the pollen during collection on flowers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Newly emerged workers of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona aff. depilis prefer stored pollen to fresh pollen

et al. 2016

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-Like in honey bees, the pollen collected and stored by stingless bees usually undergoes a fermentation process characterized by increase in moisture, lactic acid, and proliferation of microorganisms. We tested whether 2-day-old Scaptotrigona aff. depilis workers were more attracted to and consumed fermented pollen from old pollen pots (>7 days) or fresh pollen collected from the corbicula of foragers. In each bioassay, we offered both types of pollen to 40 inexperienced workers of one colony for 24 min, and repeated the procedure in ten different colonies. In all cases, there were more bees feeding on the fermented pollen, which was 2.2 times more consumed than the fresh pollen. Our results suggested that fermented pollen attracted more bees potentially due to innate preference of young bees, higher levels of attractant substances present in fermented pollen, or due to associative learning reminiscent from larvae feeding habits. To ensure a constant food supply and, consequently, increase the colony's chances of survival during events of resource scarcity, bees store pollen and nectar (carbohydrate source) in the nest (Roubik 1982;Maia-Silva et al. 2015).During pollen collection on flowers, foragers agglomerate pollen grains in their corbicula using nectar or salivary secretions. This process facilitates pollen adhesion to the corbicula (Herbert and Shimanuki 1978;Leonhardt et al. 2007). Vásquez and Olofsson (2009) observed bacteria from the honey stomach of honey bees in newly collected pollen as well as in pollen stored in the nest, which suggests that worker bees may inoculate microorganisms in the pollen during collection on flowers.Inside the nest of honey bees and also in some stingless bees species, the stored pollen undergoes chemical and biological processes during storage that may change its chemical composition. Corresponding author: A. Vollet-Neto,

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Foraging loads of stingless bees and utilisation of stored nectar for pollen harvesting

Cited by 60 publications

References 24 publications

Behavioural and developmental responses of a stingless bee (Scaptotrigona depilis) to nest overheating

Behavioural and developmental responses of a stingless bee (Scaptotrigona depilis) to nest overheating

Smelling like resin: terpenoids account for species-specific cuticular profiles in Southeast-Asian stingless bees

Newly emerged workers of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona aff. depilis prefer stored pollen to fresh pollen

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