Abstract
Comparative studies from our laboratory (Laboratório de Biologia do Desenvolvimento de Abelhas-FFCLRP-USP) demonstrated differences in the progress of melanization and sclerotization of the exoskeleton (cuticle) among bee species, as well as variation in expression of two genes involved in these processes: the genes encoding the laccase 2 enzyme and the neuropeptide bursicon. These data s…