Production of Workers, Queens and Males in Plebeia Remota Colonies (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini), a Stingless Bee with Reproductive Diapause

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Production of workers, queens and males in Plebeia remota colonies (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini), a stingless bee with reproductive diapause D.A. Alves1, V.L. Imperatriz-Fonseca1,2 and P.S. Santos-Filho1 1Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil 2Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil Corresponding author: D.A. Alves E-mail: [email protected] Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (2): 672-683 (2009) Received December 12, 2008 Accepted January 26, 2009 Published June 9, 2009 ABSTRACT. Queen, male and worker production was studied during one year in three Plebeia remota colonies from Atlantic Rainforest in Cunha, São Paulo State, and two from a subtropical Araucaria forest in Prudentópolis, Paraná State. All the colonies were kept in São Paulo city during our study. Plebeia remota has reproductive diapause during autumn and winter, which makes its biology of special interest. Brood production begins before spring, renewing the colony cycle. We sampled brood combs monthly in these five colonies. The number of cells in each comb varied Genetics and Molecular Research 8 (2): 672-683 (2009) ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br significantly with time of the year; the smallest brood combs appear to be a consequence of reduced food availability. However, worker, queen and male frequencies did not differ significantly in time, and this presumably is due to the fact that they all are necessary for the growth, maintenance and reproduction of the colony. Although some molecular, morphological and behavioral differences have been detected in several studies comparing populations from Cunha and from Prudentópolis, we did not find significant differences between the colonies from these two localities in number of brood cells and worker, queen and male production. Key words: Plebeia remota; Stingless bees; Queen production; Worker production; Male production Genetics and Molecular Research 8 (2): 672-683 (2009) ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br.

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