Autor(es)

Noll, Fernando B. ; Da Silva, Marjorie ; Somavilla, Alexandre ; Carpenter, James M.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: American Museum Novitates; v. N/A, n. 4017, p. 12-pg., 2024-06-21.

Resumo

Here, we tested the application of morphological skew in Agelaia timida by reporting caste dimorphism and comparing it with other epiponine species. A description of a nest of A. timida is also provided. Females were measured to investigate morphological differences between castes and dissected to assess ovarian development. Three types of ovaries were found: filamentous (workers), developed with some mature oocytes (intermediates), and developed and inseminated (queens). Queens are bigger than workers, but discriminant analysis showed castes are not morphologically distinct. Mahalanobis distance showed a statistical separation between inseminated and non-inseminated females, and the only distinct group was workers. The results differ from other species of Agelaia, which present clear-cut caste differences. Thus, A. timida fits into morphological skew theory since it forms small colonies with low caste differentiation and nonsterility of workers. These features, plus the presence of a true envelope, may be plesiomorphic, as observed in the ground plan of Epiponini. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 19/09215-6 - Desimpedimento taxonômico de vespas aculeadas: visões micro e macro-regionais da fauna neotropical
• Beneficiário: Fernando Barbosa Noll
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 20/07895-7 - EMU concedido no processo 2019/09215-6: estereomicroscópio Leica modelo M205C
• Beneficiário: Fernando Barbosa Noll
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa Equipamentos Multiusuários