Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

Emergence of division of labour in the halictine bees: Contributions of social interactions and behavioural variance

Article Abstract:

A study on the comparison on task performance and social interactions during nest construction in forced associations of the solitary halictine bee, Lasioglossum (Ctenonomia) NDA-1 and of the communal Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) hemichalceum was performed. The study revealed that in communal bees division of labour can be primarily explained by differences in task propensity and in solitary bees both behavioural asymmetry and social interactions contribute to division of labour.

---

Nestmate recognition cues in a stingless bee, Trigona fulviventris

Article Abstract:

The stingless bee, Trigona fulviventris can discriminate from non nestmates, then, bioassayed putative nestmate recognition cue compounds including fatty acids, alkanes, an alkene, wax esters and floral oils and at least one compound of every type affected nestmate recognition but sham treatment of controls has no effect on nestmate recognition. The implications of these findings are discussed for understanding the evolution of nestmate recognition in bees.

Kin recognition in animals, Animal kin recognition

---

Variation in the ability to communicate three-dimensional resource location by stingless bees from different habitats

Article Abstract:

Using feeder arrays, it was demonstrated that 2 Brazilian stingless bee species, Melipona mandacaia and M.bicolor, can recruit a large number of nestmates rapidly by visiting a specific location. It is suggested that Melipona may be a good model for studying the evolution of recruitment communication systems in highly social bees.

Animal communication

Some parts © 2013 Advameg, Inc.