Despite the loss of the sting appar

Despite the loss of the sting apparatus, Meliponini (stingless) bees have not lost their
ability to defend themselves. Several defensive strategies have been described for
the group, including biting and resin deposition. Defensive behavior can be mediated
by chemical communication, for example through the use of alarm pheromones.
The Stingless bee species Melipona flavolineata Friese is an important species for
meliponiculture in Brazil, especially in the Amazon region. In order to improve the
current management methods for the species, this study aimed to describe the range
of defensive strategies used by the stingless bee M. flavolineata towards inter and
intraspecific chemical signals known to trigger defensive responses in related species,
namely the head secretions of the robber bee Lestrimelitta limao (Smith) and the
mandibular gland extract of conspecifics M. flavolineata workers. The stimuli provoked
different defensive reactions. The head secretions of the robber bee repelled returning
foragers, elicited the enclosing of the nest entrance tube with batumen balls and the
agglomeration of workers outside the box. In contrast, the mandibular gland extract
elicited aggression towards the pheromone deposition site, transport of resin and
generalised agitated flights. Our results confirm the role of the mandibular gland as
a source of alarm pheromone in this species and the chemical triggering of a specific
defensive response to the known cleptoparasite L. limao

ผลลัพธ์ (อังกฤษ) 2:

Despite the loss of the Sting Apparatus, Meliponini (stingless) Bees have not Lost their
ability to Defend themselves. Several defensive Strategies have been described for
the Group, including biting and resin deposition. Defensive behavior Can be mediated
by Chemical Communication, for example Through the use of Alarm pheromones.
The species Melipona Bee Stingless Flavolineata Friese is an important species for
Meliponiculture in Brazil, especially in the Amazon Region. In Order to improve the
current methods for the Management species, this Study aimed to describe the Range
of defensive Strategies used by the stingless Bee M. Flavolineata towards Inter and
intraspecific Chemical Signals Known to Trigger defensive Responses in related species,
namely the head of secretions. the Robber Bee Lestrimelitta Limao (Smith) and the
mandibular gland Extract of conspecifics M. Flavolineata Workers. The stimuli provoked
different reactions defensive. The head of the secretions Robber Bee repelled returning
foragers, elicited the enclosing of the tube with Nest Entrance Batumen Balls and the
agglomeration of Workers Outside the box. In contrast, the mandibular gland Extract
elicited Aggression towards the Pheromone deposition Site, Transport of resin and
agitated Flights generalized. Our results Confirm the role of the mandibular gland as
a source of Alarm Pheromone in this species and the Chemical triggering of a specific
defensive response to the Known Cleptoparasite L. Limao.