Melipona garbage bees release their cargo according to a Gaussian distribution

Abstract

Worker bees of Melipona compressipes and Melipona scutellaris (Meliponinae, Apidae) colonies, involved in carrying garbage to the outside of the nest, dump each individual load cargo of cocoon pellets (cocoon + larval feces + remaining wax). For Melipona scutellaris they weight a mean of 27.8 mg, and are dropped at a distance of 1 to 45 m and between 1 and 35 m for M. compressipes, according to a Gaussian Distribution. In the case of M. scutellaris the expression is:where,N(x) = number of pellets; Exp = e elevated to the expression in brackets; x = distance in meters; the linear term (bx) describes accidental cargo slipping.The constants for the observed data are: b = 0.69; A = 1363; σ = 2.16 m; <x> = 32.14 m.Evolutionary aspects of this method of disposal of garbage are discussed.Key words: stingless bees, Melipona scutellaris, Melipona compressipes, garbage bees, Gaussian Distribution, garbage release. RESUMO Abelhas lixeiras de Melipona soltam suas cargas conforme uma distribuição normalAs operárias lixeiras de Melipona compressipes e Melipona scutellaris (Meliponinae, Apidae) soltam sua carga de casulo + fezes + cera (que pesa em média 27.8 mg, em Melipona scutellaris) a distância de 1 a 35 m para Melipona compressipes e de 1 a 45 para Melipona scutellaris, de acordo com uma Distribuição Gaussiana. Para o caso de Melipona scutellaris a expressão é : Palavras-chave: abelhas sem ferrão, Melipona scutellaris, Melipona compressipes, abelhas lixeiras, Distribuição Gaussiana.

Waste Management in the Stingless Bee Melipona beecheii Bennett (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

“…We did not record the destination of waste outside the nest, but return flights were short (mean 21.7 seconds) compared with nectar and pollen collecting flights (15.6 and 25.1 minutes respectively; Biesmeijer & Toth, 1998) and it is likely that waste was dropped at a distance comparable to other Melipona species (e.g. 18m in M. compressipes and 31m in M. scutellaris; Kerr & Kerr 1999). Dumping waste close to the nest is typical in stingless bees.…”

“…Dumping waste close to the nest is typical in stingless bees. Some species, like Lestrimellita limao (Smith) and Lestrimellita niitkib Ayala, simply drop waste in front of the nest entrance and in Frieseomellita varia (Lepeletier) waste is carried less than 1m from the nest (Kerr & Kerr, 1999). Carrying waste away from the nest has a number of possible advantages.…”

“…Eira barbara (Linnaeus) [Mustelidae]; Kerr & Kerr 1999), both of which can attack and destroy the colony. Waste may also provide a substrate on which potentially harmful microorganisms can thrive.…”

“…Cephalotrigona capitata (Smith) and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), waste accumulates, eventually forming a large mass (scutellum), which can help to regulate nest temperature (Michener, 1974(Michener, , 2000Sakagami, 1982). In Melipona compressipes (Fabricius) and Melipona scutellaris Latreille, Kerr and Kerr (1999) reported that waste (cocoon + feces + wax) are removed from the nests and dropped at a distance of 1 to 45 m according to a Gaussian distribution which reduces the cost of energy and the attraction of predators and pests.…”

Social life and sanitary risks: evolutionary and current ecological conditions determine waste management in leaf-cutting ants

“…Social animals prevent the spread of pathogens through prophylactic behaviours [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. To prevent infection and spread of pathogens from refuse disposals, social organisms have strategies of waste management, including the location of refuse piles (external refuse piles or internal nest chambers; [6,[13][14][15][16][17]) and waste handling by specialized individuals [13,[18][19][20]. Adequate waste management is essential for the survival of societies and studying waste management therefore enlightens the understanding of the evolution and maintenance of group living [21,22].…”