WHY DO WORKERS OF MELIPONA FAVOSA CHASE THEIR SISTER-GYNES OUT OF THE NEST?

A remarkable feature of Melipona Stingless Bees is that an excessive number of young queens is permanently produced. Mainly with Luc de Bruijn, we have been working for some years on the behaviour of workers and young queens ("gynes") in colonies of Melipona favosa. We used this species as a model for this group of bees. Melipona favosa occurs in the northern area of South America, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago, West-Indies. Our method of research was simple, but sometimes somewhat tiring: detailed long-duration observations inside colonies that were installed in dark rooms with red light in the natural environment and with free flight exits. Some papers of this work appeared in the journal Entomologische Berichten, where colour pictures could be published. With permission of the editor, PDF files of these papers can be downloaded.

Articles:

• Reproductive behaviour of stingless bees: nest departures of non-accepted gynes and nuptial flights in Melipona favosa (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini)
   
• Reproductive behaviour of stingless bees: solitary gynes of Melipona favosa (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) can penetrate existing nests
   
• Behaviour of males, gynes and workers at drone congregation sites of the stingless bee Melipona favosa (Apidae: Meliponini)
   
• How the production patterns of sexuals may contribute to genetic variation in Melipona favosa