Nestmate recognition was studied in the Neotropical
stingless bee Melipona panamica, a species in which
workers “sneak” their own reproductive eggs into 1% of
brood cells. We manipulated four factors that could influence
individual recognition cues: the mother queen, the environment
during the immature stage, the environment during the
early adult stage, and worker age. We also simulated the
action of natural enemies on colonies tested for discrimination
of such worker characteristics. All factors that we tested
affected responses of the discriminating workers, which
could recognize sisters, nieces and unrelated workers. Previous
exposure of unrelated callow bees to the odor of the
host nest greatly increased chances of acceptance by the host
colony. Probability of acceptance decreased, however, with
increasing age of introduced bees or increasing disturbance
of the host colony. These complexities in patterns of nestmate
recognition and nest defense are adequately explained from
the standpoint of inclusive fitness of the discriminating
workers. Differences in nestmate recognition and worker egg
laying among Meliponini are also discussed
Nestmate recognition was studied in the Neotropicalstingless bee Melipona panamica, a species in whichworkers “sneak” their own reproductive eggs into 1% ofbrood cells. We manipulated four factors that could influenceindividual recognition cues: the mother queen, the environmentduring the immature stage, the environment during theearly adult stage, and worker age. We also simulated theaction of natural enemies on colonies tested for discriminationof such worker characteristics. All factors that we testedaffected responses of the discriminating workers, whichcould recognize sisters, nieces and unrelated workers. Previousexposure of unrelated callow bees to the odor of thehost nest greatly increased chances of acceptance by the hostcolony. Probability of acceptance decreased, however, withincreasing age of introduced bees or increasing disturbanceof the host colony. These complexities in patterns of nestmaterecognition and nest defense are adequately explained fromthe standpoint of inclusive fitness of the discriminatingworkers. Differences in nestmate recognition and worker egglaying among Meliponini are also discussed
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