Ovariole structure and oogenesis in queens and workers of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) kept under different social conditions

Author(s)

Tanaka, Erica Donato ^[1] ; Santana, Weyder Cristiano ^[1] ; Hartfelder, Klaus ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Pret, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Apidologie; v. 40, n. 2, p. 163-177, 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

The high variability in the reproductive biology of stingless bees makes them very amenable for comparative studies with other eusocial bee taxa. We investigated the structural organization of the ovaries of Melipona quadrifasciata queens and workers kept under different social conditions by analyzing their general histology, mitotic activity, and microfilament organization. The overall dynamics of ovarian activity were similar in the two castes, and at emergence their ovarioles contained a previtellogenic follicle. Stingless bees and honey bees differ in the structural organization in the lower germarium, but they have in common synchronized mitotic activity and putative germ line stem cells in the terminal filament. Unlike honey bees, stingless bee workers lay trophic eggs in addition to reproductive eggs. The overall similarities in oogenesis between the two taxa suggest that the decision to form trophic eggs should only occur in the late stages of oogenesis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 99/00719-6 - Africanized honeybees: an integrated analysis of the africanization process of Apis mellifera, focusing on determinants in fertility of drones, queens and workers
• Grantee: Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants