Heterochrony of cuticular differentiation in eusocial corbiculate bees

Autor(es)

Elias-Neto, Moyses ^[1] ; Nascimento, Ana L. O. ^[1] ; Bonetti, Ana M. ^[2] ; Nascimento, Fabio S. ^[1] ; Mateus, Sidnei ^[1] ; Garofalo, Carlos A. ^[1] ; Bitondi, Marcia M. G. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, BR-14040901 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Genet & Bioquim, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Apidologie; v. 45, n. 4, p. 397-408, JUL 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 3

Resumo

The exoskeleton (cuticle) of insects varies widely in shape, biomechanical properties, and functions, which are inherent to the biological species and developmental stage, besides showing a wealth of architectural specializations and nuances in the different body regions. The morphological pattern of exoskeleton maturation was studied in eusocial and solitary bees, including species of all three eusocial tribes of corbiculate bees as follows: Apini, Meliponini, and Bombini. The results showed striking differences in the rate of cuticle maturation between the solitary bees that leave the nest soon after the adult ecdysis, and the eusocial bees that take longer to leave the colony for foraging activities. There was a clear delay in the post-ecdysial cuticle tanning (melanization and sclerotization) in the eusocial bee species in comparison to the solitary species, suggesting adaptation to sociality and to the protective environment of the colony. Such heterochrony of cuticle maturation seems a conserved ontogenetic trait related to the way of life in corbiculate bees. The data generated a basic framework of exoskeleton maturation in corbiculate bees, under ontogenetic and evolutionary approaches, and give experimental support for further research on adaptation to the colony environment. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/09108-6 - Determinação da identidade alar em Blattella germanica(Dictyoptera, Blattellidae)
• Beneficiário: Moysés Elias Neto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 07/08300-2 - Diferenciação do adulto em abelhas corbiculadas: heterocronia da morfogênese cuticular e fontes secundárias de ecdisteróides
• Beneficiário: Moysés Elias Neto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 10/16380-9 - Genética molecular e regulação hormonal da diferenciação do exoesqueleto no inseto-modelo Apis mellifera
• Beneficiário: Marcia Maria Gentile Bitondi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 05/03926-5 - Genômica funcional de Apis mellifera: busca de novos genes e redes funcionais no contexto do desenvolvimento, da diferenciação de castas e da reprodução
• Beneficiário: Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático