Journal of Morphological Sciences
http://www.jms.periodikos.com.br/article/587cb4627f8c9d0d058b4642
Journal of Morphological Sciences
Original Article

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIVE AND TROPHIC EGGS IN Melipona BEES (APIDAE, MELIPONINI)

Rogério Aparecido Pereira; Michelle Manfrini Morais; Leonardo Domingos Gioli; Fábio Santos Nascimento; Marcos Antonio Rossi; Luci Rolandi Bego

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Abstract

The process of cell provisioning and oviposition (POP) in stingless bees involves highly complex interactions between the queen and workers. During this process, workers can usually lay two types of eggs, referred to as reproductive and trophic. Reproductive worker-laid eggs are unfertilized but develop into males whereas trophic worker-laid eggs are eaten by the queen immediately after oviposition. Although the egg-laying activity of reproductive workers varies considerably among species, the laying of trophic eggs appears to be the rule in Melipona bees. In this work, we examined whether the morphology of eggs laid by workers and queens of M. scutellaris, M. compressipes fasciculata and M. asilvai was similar to that of other Melipona species. Egg morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy whereas egg size was measured by light microscopy. In all of the species studied, the chorion of queen and worker reproductive eggs showed a characteristic reticulate pattern. The surface of trophic eggs was not reticulate and had an irregular appearance following fixation. Trophic eggs were also invariably smaller than queen-laid eggs and were sometimes smaller than worker-laid reproductive eggs. These findings indicate that trophic eggs can be smaller than the eggs of functional workers, which suggests that the development of this type of egg is probably associated with different physiological adaptations.

Keywords

Eggs, Melipona, Meliponini, morphology, oviposition
587cb4627f8c9d0d058b4642 jms Articles
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J. Morphol. Sci.

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