Handling sticky resin by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Gastauer, Markus; Campos, L. A. O.; Wittmann, Dieter

doi:10.1590/s0085-56262011005000018

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…When intruders like the ant Camponotus sericeiventris (Guérin, 1834, Hymenoptera: Formicinae) enter the nest, worker bees form small pebbles of resin from these deposits and stick them onto the intruder's extremities until legs and antennas are tied up causing immobilization (Radtke 1994). These pebbles are formed and transported by the bee's mandibles (Gastauer et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Handling sticky Resin by Stingless Bees: Adhesive Properties of Surface Structures

Gastauer¹,

Campos²,

Wittmann³

2013

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Many Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) like Tetragonisca angustula collect resin to defend their nests against intruders like ants or Robber Bees. Small portions of resin are attached to intruders bodies and extremities causing their immobilization. It has been observed that resin is removed easily from the bee's mandible but adheres strongly to the intruder's cuticle. We tested the hypothesis that resin sticks lesser to the mandibles of Stingless Bees than to the surface of intruders due to special surface structures or adhesive properties of these structures. The surface structures of the mandible of T. angustula and the trochanter of Camponotus sericeiventris were studied by scanning electron microscopy. To measure adhesion properties, selected surfaces were fixed on a fine glass pin and withdrawn from a glass tip covered with resin. The deformation of the glass pin indicates adhesion forces operating between the resin and the selective surface. The absolute value of the forces is computed from the glass pin´s stiffness. It has been shown that resin sticks more to the smooth mandible of the bee than to the structured trochanter of the ant. A new hypothesis to be tested says that the bees might lubricate their mandibles with nectar or honey to reduce the resin's adhesion temporarily.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been observed that the resin, once attached on the intruder's extremities, clings very tight to its cuticle, while it is removed easily and without residues from the bee's mandible (Gastauer et al 2011). Resin seems to stick lesser to the bee's mandible than to other insect's surfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Handling sticky Resin by Stingless Bees: Adhesive Properties of Surface Structures

Gastauer¹,

Campos²,

Wittmann³

2013

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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“…T. angustula bees collect and store plant resin in their nests to use as defence compounds (Gastauer et al . ). In T. angustula and Plebeia spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Pollinator‐independent orchid attracts biotic pollinators due the production of lipoidal substances

2017

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Flowering plants often depend on the attraction of biotic pollinators for sexual reproduction. Consequently, the emergence and maintenance of selected floral attributes related to pollinator attraction and rewarding are driven by pollinator pressure. In this paper we explore the effect of pollinators, rainfall, temperature and air humidity on the reproduction of a Brazilian terrestrial orchid, Cranichis candida based on data of phenology, flower resources, olfactory and visual attraction cues, pollinators and breeding system. The flowers of C. candida are strongly protandrous and pollinated by workers of the social native bee Tetragonisca angustula. The bees collect labellar lipoidal substances (wax scales), which are transported to the nest. The lipoidal substance is composed of sterols, hydrocarbons and terpenes. The last presumably protects the bees and their nests against pathogens and other arthropods. C. candida sets fruits through biotic self- and cross-pollination, and spontaneously due the action of raindrops on flowers. Our results indicate that in C. candida, although rain-mediated spontaneous self-pollination happens, fructification mediated by biotic pollinations also occurs, which may result in fruit set by cross-pollination. A mixed pollination system must result in higher genetic variability when compared to species whose fruits are produced entirely by self-pollination. On the other hand, autogamy is a form of reproductive assurance, and has commonly evolved where pollination services are rare or absent.

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“…Somente abelhas fêmeas coletam este recurso, uma vez que são utilizados apenas para construção de ninhos. A maioria das espécies coleta a resina com as mandíbulas, realizando a manipulação com as pernas anteriores e médias até a transferência para as corbículas/escopas, onde são transportadas até o ninho (Gastauer et al 2011). Entretanto, as abelhas Anthidiini transportam este recurso preso às mandíbulas na forma de uma massa ainda maleável (Alves-dos -Santos 2004).…”

Section: Resina Floralunclassified

Entre Flores E Visitantes: Estratégias De Disponibilização E Coleta De Recursos Florais

et al. 2018

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Handling sticky resin by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Cited by 20 publications

References 13 publications

Handling sticky Resin by Stingless Bees: Adhesive Properties of Surface Structures

Handling sticky Resin by Stingless Bees: Adhesive Properties of Surface Structures

Pollinator‐independent orchid attracts biotic pollinators due the production of lipoidal substances

Entre Flores E Visitantes: Estratégias De Disponibilização E Coleta De Recursos Florais

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