Nonvolatile chemicals provide a nest defence mechanism for stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria (Apidae, Meliponini)

Abstract

Social insects construct nests that protect their brood and food resources from both the physical environment and natural enemies. Stingless bees use plant‐derived resins, mixed with wax to form propolis, in the construction of their nests, and these products can be effective sources of defense against natural enemies, including ants. However, it is not known whether this defense, in the form of deterring or repelling workers, derives from the physical properties or chemical compounds of these products. The nest entrance of Tetragonula carbonaria is constructed with propolis and Corymbia resins, and we ask whether nonvolatile chemicals present in these products act as a defense against ants. Our field experiments revealed that workers of Iridomyrmex mayri Forel were deterred from crossing a chemical barrier comprising nonvolatile, nonpolar (hexane) extracts of propolis and Corymbia tree resin. However, polar (ethanol) extracts did not have this effect. These data are the first to demonstrate that the chemical components alone of entrance propolis and resins can provide a nest‐defense function against ants.

Resin Use by Stingless Bees: A Review

“…This sticky material serves as a defense that is both mechanical and chemical in nature (reviewed by Leonhardt [16]). The terpenoid compounds commonly found in resin repel many predators [10,14,22,61]. The predators (largely ants) that do attempt to advance across the resin droplets often become trapped in the sticky material [62], and are only able to breech the barrier when they use the bodies of other ants to bridge the so-called resin "moat" [2,63,64].…”

Practical meliponiculture: use of trap boxes to control Tracuá Carpenter ants (Camponotus atriceps Smith, 1858), an important natural enemy

“…Animal Sciences, v. 44, e54128, 2022Neto, & Ratnieks, 2008Shackleton et al, 2014). Lehmberg et al (2008) and Wang, Wittwer, Heard, Goodger, and Elgar (2018) describe, as a form of defense for this group, aggressive bites, use of plant resins and propolis to bond the enemy, or even the action of chemical components released by the material used for preparing the entrance to their nests. And, in the case of S. depilis, the very entrance to the nest in the form of a 'straw' makes it even more difficult for ants to attack.…”

Efeito da Conversão de Habitats sobre a Diversidade de Abelhas Nativas Sem Ferrão (Insecta, Apidae, Meliponini) no Distrito Federal

“…As colônias podem possuir milhares de operárias, algumas centenas de zangões e habitualmente apenas uma rainha. Esse grupo de inseto é peculiar por não utilizar o ferrão para defesa, já que possui essa estrutura atrofiada, voltando-se para outras estratégias de defesa como a construção do ninho em local de difícil acesso, como cavidades em fustes ou até mesmo em cavidades de paredes e acomodação de resina na entrada da colônia, impedindo a entrada de possíveis invasores (Michener 2007;Wang et al 2018). Outra estratégia conhecida em algumas espécies é o fechamento do tubo de entrada durante a noite, o que impede a entrada de parasitas que podem invadir a colônia, além de proporcionar proteção contra outros perigos (Alves et al 2015).…”