Bionomic and eco-chemical determinants of cleptoparasitic behaviour of Lestrimelitta limao (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini).

Author(s)

Lucas Garcia Von Zuben

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2012-10-01

Examining board members

Túlio Marcos Nunes; Marco Antonio Del Lama; José Roberto Trigo

• Advisor: Túlio Marcos Nunes

Abstract

The interactions between flowers and bees played an important role in the behavioral evolution of these insects since they feed on floral resources. Nevertheless, some species of stingless bees have a different feeding strategy, which is known as cleptoparasitism. These species obtain their food exclusively through pillaging of other beehives. The exclusivity of this stealing behavior can be found in two different groups of stingless bees, Lestrimelitta and Cleptotrigona. Although some studies concerning this interesting behaviour have already been made, there are many questions related to its chemical and behavioral ecology that remain virtually unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate these aspects of the cleptoparasitism in Lestrimelitta limao. The behavioral analyses focused on the investigation of host choice by the cleptoparasitic bees while eco-chemical analyses investigated the chemical profile of the cephalic glands (mandibular and cephalic salivary) and their ecological role during the pillage. The results brought new important information concerning the cleptoparasitic behavior of L. limao. The host choice analysis indicates a lower frequency of attacks in the aggressive hosts. Chemical investigations showed different proportions of the citrals isomers which are present in the mandibular gland, the chemical profile of cephalic salivary glands and the ecological role of citral. Furthermore, the evolution of cleptoparasitic behaviour is widely discussed and the necessity of a new classification for the parasitism among bees is presented. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/04704-4 - Bionomic and eco-chemical determinants of cleptoparasitic behaviour of Lestrimelitta limao (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini).
• Grantee: Lucas Garcia von Zuben
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master