Behavior Paratrigona subnuda

1 behavior

1.1 dominance hierarchy
1.2 oviposition process behavior
1.3 division of labor
1.4 communication
1.5 mating behaviors
1.6 foraging behaviors
1.7 virgin queen behavior
1.8 workers’ behavior towards gynes

behavior
dominance hierarchy

similar other stingless bees, p. subnuda females divided queens , workers. there 2 types of queens within nest, one, singly mated queen , virgin daughter queens kept in reserve. workers daughters of one, singly mated queen. within p. subnuda, there power struggle between queen , workers. due larger size, queens able aggressively push workers, workers successful in laying eggs. later found workers have specific strategies allow oviposition.

oviposition process behavior

singly mated queens of p.subnuda lay eggs within royal cells , lay separate egg in each cell has been supplied food. minutes before queen lays egg, workers regurgitate food cell. queen lay egg on top of food , cell closed rapidly workers. workers have mechanisms disrupt process , reproduce male progeny.

division of labor

stingless bees, including p. subnuda, have distinctive divisions of labor conducted different age , in relation of needs. there 4 distinctive jobs done @ different times in worker’s lifespan. first self-grooming performed after first hours emerging pupea. after, there incubation , brood chamber repairs. followed rearing behaviors, including provisioning cells, construction of cells , cleaning. workers responsible feeding both young adult bees , singly mated queen bee. workers must participate in reconstruction behaviors. reconstruction behaviors include reconstructing involucrum, entrance guard duty, cleaning of nest , receiving nectar. finally, there collection of pollen , nectar serve food sources.

communication

p. subnuda communicates in similar way many other species within meliponini tribe. due swarming activities of p. subnuda essential scout bees able locate new nests , worker bees can communicate sources of food. communication done through jostling , mandibular secretions. when returning pollen or nectar, bees bring small amounts of resources others bees within nest. along way nest fly in irregular zigzag patterns in directions. bees try jostle bees in way , alert them resources have been found. because of zigzag behavior many times bees not give out small amounts of syrup out other bees. researchers able observe when give out syrup based on when there interruption in zigzag pattern, such sharp turn in semicircle. particular zigzag behavior seen in brazilian meliponini species studied. bees alert 1 secreting mandible glandular secretions. in flight, bees rub mandibles on surface of blades of grass , stones. p. subnuda contain tube-shaped mandibular gland serve reservoir these secretions. these secretions have particular scent associated them , used scout bees when establishing paths new paths , food sources.

mating behaviors

within p. subnuda colony, there single queen have 1 mate fertilize eggs. queen go nuptial flight , male’s genitals become stuck genitals of female, mating sign. in p. subnuda, males not congregate @ front of entrance of virgin queens newly established colony. workers have ovarian development , can lay trophic eggs.

foraging behaviors

fight activity crucial foraging behaviors of p. subnuda , dependent upon many environment factors.these factors include temperature, luminous intensity, relative humidity,rain , wind levels.their foraging behaviors can influenced biotic factors include availability of floral resources, physiology , internal conditions of colony (food supply , queen productivity). p. subnuda, greatest flight activity found arise during temperatures between 24.0 °c , 25.0 °c. forage pollen , nectar, stored within nest pots. bee species, geotrigona mombuca, found within in same subterranean habitat , has similar foraging activity patterns above 22.0 °c. biogeographical , foraging congruence suggest possible common history between 2 species.

studies have shown p. subnuda , scaptotrigona bipunctata numerically dominant stingless bee foragers of flowers found in cantareira forest, accounting more 80% of stingless bees found foraging. commonly found in upper strata (above 7m) in neotropics. yet, p. subnuda found foraging in lower strata during shortage of mass flowering or high availability of attractive flowering in lower strata. p. subnuda particularly active in upper strata “pre-adapted” forage while exposed direct sunlight due large surface volume ratio. foraging in lower strata during shortage periods represents example of opportunistic foraging strategies.

virgin queen behavior

p. subnuda virgin queens find refuge in empty foot pots within nest. when virgin queens become “attractive,” develop tergal , mandibular glands , maintain contact workers. yet once glandular products run out, take refuge in pots , use mandible seal pot. how long stay in pot can vary hours minutes. before leaving, stick antennas out of pot examine external environment. once glandular product has been replenished, circulate around colony again. process continue happen until mature. throughout maturation, on go many different changes in glandular secretions. @ peak of “attractiveness” secreting pheromones , try supersede queen.

workers’ behavior towards gynes

p. subnuda , other members of tribe meliponini show distinct behavior towards gynes or royal eggs. has been observed new queens continuously reared , killed workers bees following birth. result, there permeant presence of continuously short-lived gynes. gynes eliminated either starvation or aggression. many times workers continuously reduce amount of food donations given gyne. gynes age, there higher risk of being killed due food deprivation. in periods of intense aggression, workers can kill larger number of gynes within few hours. thought presence of queen induces gynes discharge queen pheromones when mature enough so. release of pheromones initiates workers either kill or starve them.