Pub Date : 2023-09-28DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.10098
Jürgen Heinze, Peter G. Hawkes
The myrmicine ant genus Cardiocondyla consists of around 80 species of small, inconspicuous ants, which live mainly in subtropical and tropical Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. Several species have been accidentally introduced to America and have also invaded numerous originally ant-free islands around the world. The diversity of life histories in this genus, with lethally fighting wingless males, dominance hierarchies among queens, and considerable variation in the sociogenetic organization of colonies across species, has made it an interesting model to investigate the evolution and behavioral ecology of reproductive strategies. Taxa of the African Cardiocondyla shuckardi group are of particular interest, as in a phylogeny they lie between facultatively polygynous species with fatal male competition and monogynous species with mutually tolerant males. Studies on male behavior and sociogenetics in C. “venustula,” a widespread member of the C. shuckardi group, showed that males defend small territories inside their subterraneous nests. At the same time, they revealed a surprisingly large variability in mtDNA haplotypes both within and between populations in South Africa, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire. As the different lineages are very similar in morphology and nuclear markers, more research is needed to clarify the very confused taxonomic situation in this fascinating group of ants.
{"title":"Genetic Diversity in Pioneer Ants: The Cardiocondyla shuckardi Group","authors":"Jürgen Heinze, Peter G. Hawkes","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.10098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.10098","url":null,"abstract":"The myrmicine ant genus Cardiocondyla consists of around 80 species of small, inconspicuous ants, which live mainly in subtropical and tropical Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. Several species have been accidentally introduced to America and have also invaded numerous originally ant-free islands around the world. The diversity of life histories in this genus, with lethally fighting wingless males, dominance hierarchies among queens, and considerable variation in the sociogenetic organization of colonies across species, has made it an interesting model to investigate the evolution and behavioral ecology of reproductive strategies. Taxa of the African Cardiocondyla shuckardi group are of particular interest, as in a phylogeny they lie between facultatively polygynous species with fatal male competition and monogynous species with mutually tolerant males. Studies on male behavior and sociogenetics in C. “venustula,” a widespread member of the C. shuckardi group, showed that males defend small territories inside their subterraneous nests. At the same time, they revealed a surprisingly large variability in mtDNA haplotypes both within and between populations in South Africa, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire. As the different lineages are very similar in morphology and nuclear markers, more research is needed to clarify the very confused taxonomic situation in this fascinating group of ants.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":"98 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135470853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-14DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8876
Xinjun Guo, Saiting Wang, Jing Feng
To illustrate the essential role of Apis cerana Fabricius in plant pollination, a survey was conducted using PCR, DNA barcoding, and high-throughput sequencing technologies to assess the diversity of plants foraged by A. cerana at five sites around Qinling Mountains. A fragment of the rbcL gene in pollen isolated from honey collected at each site was amplified and sequenced. The results show that samples BJ and TC, samples FP and AK have a high correlation, respectively. According to the information of a total of 64 plant species identified in the five sites, belonging to 53 genera, 37 families, and 23 orders, it is found that there is a relatively high diversity and complex composition of nectar and pollen plants and that most of the plants are sporadically available. The identified species show higher occurrence in some orders, such as Sapindales, Rosales, etc. There are significantly more plants of temperate origin than those of tropical origin, 58.5% and 34.0%, respectively. Some species of Rosales or Sapindales are more visited by A. cerana, with Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) being the dominant species. These results provide a basis for assessing the role of A. cerana in plant pollination and maintaining biodiversity.
{"title":"Diversity of Plants Foraged by Apis cerana Fabricius Around Qinling Mountains (Central China) Based on Honey Pollen Samples","authors":"Xinjun Guo, Saiting Wang, Jing Feng","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8876","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8876","url":null,"abstract":"To illustrate the essential role of Apis cerana Fabricius in plant pollination, a survey was conducted using PCR, DNA barcoding, and high-throughput sequencing technologies to assess the diversity of plants foraged by A. cerana at five sites around Qinling Mountains. A fragment of the rbcL gene in pollen isolated from honey collected at each site was amplified and sequenced. The results show that samples BJ and TC, samples FP and AK have a high correlation, respectively. According to the information of a total of 64 plant species identified in the five sites, belonging to 53 genera, 37 families, and 23 orders, it is found that there is a relatively high diversity and complex composition of nectar and pollen plants and that most of the plants are sporadically available. The identified species show higher occurrence in some orders, such as Sapindales, Rosales, etc. There are significantly more plants of temperate origin than those of tropical origin, 58.5% and 34.0%, respectively. Some species of Rosales or Sapindales are more visited by A. cerana, with Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) being the dominant species. These results provide a basis for assessing the role of A. cerana in plant pollination and maintaining biodiversity.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134911415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-23DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9103
Tarun Dhadwal, Joginder Singh Rilta, H. Bharti
Five new species Vollenhovia pfeifferi sp. nov., V. mawrapensis sp. nov. , V. karimalaensis sp. nov., V. taylori sp. nov. and V. terrayami sp. nov. are described from India. An identification key supplemented with digital images of the known species of the genus based on theworker caste from India is also provided.
{"title":"Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Five New Species from India","authors":"Tarun Dhadwal, Joginder Singh Rilta, H. Bharti","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9103","url":null,"abstract":"Five new species Vollenhovia pfeifferi sp. nov., V. mawrapensis sp. nov. , V. karimalaensis sp. nov., V. taylori sp. nov. and V. terrayami sp. nov. are described from India. An identification key supplemented with digital images of the known species of the genus based on theworker caste from India is also provided.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42596235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-23DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9099
Alain Lenoir, Elfie Perdereau, Laurence Berville
Cuticular hydrocarbons of some Dolichoderinae species from France and various places like Spain, North Africa, and Italy were studied. The Tapinoma nigerrimum group was particularly analyzed and replaced in the genus Tapinoma. All species were correctly discriminated and a new hydrocarbons profile was found in Spanish mountains in the T. nigerrimum group, which was provisionally named T. sp. Spain. We added numerous unknown spots for the distribution of these ants. We also tested aggression between some T. magnum colonies and it appeared that this species forms supercolonies like other invasive species, but does not form giant supercolonies like the Argentine ant
{"title":"Chemotaxonomy of Tapinoma and some Dolichoderinae Ants from Europe and North Africa","authors":"Alain Lenoir, Elfie Perdereau, Laurence Berville","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9099","url":null,"abstract":"Cuticular hydrocarbons of some Dolichoderinae species from France and various places like Spain, North Africa, and Italy were studied. The Tapinoma nigerrimum group was particularly analyzed and replaced in the genus Tapinoma. All species were correctly discriminated and a new hydrocarbons profile was found in Spanish mountains in the T. nigerrimum group, which was provisionally named T. sp. Spain. We added numerous unknown spots for the distribution of these ants. We also tested aggression between some T. magnum colonies and it appeared that this species forms supercolonies like other invasive species, but does not form giant supercolonies like the Argentine ant","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":"59 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135520842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-22DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9211
M. Aragão, B. C. Barbosa, R. S. T. Menezes, A. Somavilla, M. L. de Oliveira
Parachartergus wasps are known by having a very aggressive behavior, especially the large black species with white wings tip, which have painful stings. They exhibit a unique and interesting characteristic, the capacity to venom spraying during the colony defense or self-defense. However, for the Amazonian species Parachartergus fulgidipennis (de Saussure, 1854), little is known about its behavior and nesting. In this way, we tracked and described the nesting site, the numbers of combs, and performed an ad libitum method to record behavioral activities. The nest was fixed vertically on a man-made concrete column, 1.2 m above the ground, measuring 25.0 x 6.0 cm and contained four combs with approximately 74 cells, with 31 eggs, seven larvae, 30 pupae, and almost 42 adults. With a flat thin grayish envelope with weak corrugations, the nest is very similar to the color of the substrate which turn in to really cryptic. The colony defense behavior presented by this species is unaggressive and very docile, suggesting that is not similar as observed for other Parachartergus species.
副脉蜂以其非常具有攻击性的行为而闻名，尤其是那些有着白色翅膀尖的大型黑色物种，它们的翅膀上有痛苦的刺。它们表现出一种独特而有趣的特征，即在群体防御或自卫时喷射毒液的能力。然而，对于亚马逊地区的物种——翼龙(parartergus fulgidipennis, de Saussure, 1854)，人们对其行为和筑巢知之甚少。通过这种方法，我们对筑巢地点、梳子数量进行了跟踪和描述，并对行为活动进行了随意记录。巢垂直固定在人造混凝土柱上，距地面1.2米，尺寸为25.0 x 6.0厘米，包含4个蜂巢，约74个细胞，31个卵，7个幼虫，30个蛹和近42个成虫。有一个扁平的薄灰色的信封，带有弱波纹，巢的颜色非常类似于基材的颜色，这就变成了真正的神秘。该物种的群体防御行为是非侵略性的，非常温顺，这表明它与其他副动脉蜥不同。
{"title":"Hey, hold on, we are good guys! Colony defense behavior and notes on nesting of Parachartergus fulgidipennis (de Saussure, 1854) (Vespidae: Polistinae: Epiponini)","authors":"M. Aragão, B. C. Barbosa, R. S. T. Menezes, A. Somavilla, M. L. de Oliveira","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9211","url":null,"abstract":"Parachartergus wasps are known by having a very aggressive behavior, especially the large black species with white wings tip, which have painful stings. They exhibit a unique and interesting characteristic, the capacity to venom spraying during the colony defense or self-defense. However, for the Amazonian species Parachartergus fulgidipennis (de Saussure, 1854), little is known about its behavior and nesting. In this way, we tracked and described the nesting site, the numbers of combs, and performed an ad libitum method to record behavioral activities. The nest was fixed vertically on a man-made concrete column, 1.2 m above the ground, measuring 25.0 x 6.0 cm and contained four combs with approximately 74 cells, with 31 eggs, seven larvae, 30 pupae, and almost 42 adults. With a flat thin grayish envelope with weak corrugations, the nest is very similar to the color of the substrate which turn in to really cryptic. The colony defense behavior presented by this species is unaggressive and very docile, suggesting that is not similar as observed for other Parachartergus species.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45726358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-22DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9148
A. Udayakumar, H. Venu, K. G. R. Chandramanu, T. M. Shivalingaswamy, Arkalagud N. Shylesha, K. Subaharan, S. N. Sushil
Colony multiplication of stingless bees, Tetragonula iridipennis, largely relies on the eduction of wild colonies from their natural nesting sites in India. During the hiving of wild colonies, colonies were destroyed with the loss of robust wild foragers and built-in storage reserves over the years. The present study was conducted to devise a technique to sustainably multiply the colonies of stingless bees from the wild colony and the colony establishment and development during the eduction process. The annexure hives provided for eduction were accepted in a shorter time (3.25 ± 1.18 days), with the construction of storage pots observed at 7.75 ± 1.59 days after hive acceptance by the bees. The movement of foragers between the wild colony and the annexure hives was noticed for 13.80 ± 4.20 days. The foragers settled in the annexure hives and started foraging after 18.20 ± 2.49 days. The advancing fronts were observed at 26.67 ± 2.58 days after the addition of the laying queen in the established annexure hives. There was a significant increase in the number of inhive workers after the queen seeding in the annexure hives. This technique is the easiest and most sustainable non-destructive way of multiplication of stingless bee colonies without loss in viability of the perennial wild colony.
{"title":"A Sustainable Technique for Colony Multiplication by Eduction of Wild Nests of the Stingless Bee Tetragonula iridipennis Smith","authors":"A. Udayakumar, H. Venu, K. G. R. Chandramanu, T. M. Shivalingaswamy, Arkalagud N. Shylesha, K. Subaharan, S. N. Sushil","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9148","url":null,"abstract":"Colony multiplication of stingless bees, Tetragonula iridipennis, largely relies on the eduction of wild colonies from their natural nesting sites in India. During the hiving of wild colonies, colonies were destroyed with the loss of robust wild foragers and built-in storage reserves over the years. The present study was conducted to devise a technique to sustainably multiply the colonies of stingless bees from the wild colony and the colony establishment and development during the eduction process. The annexure hives provided for eduction were accepted in a shorter time (3.25 ± 1.18 days), with the construction of storage pots observed at 7.75 ± 1.59 days after hive acceptance by the bees. The movement of foragers between the wild colony and the annexure hives was noticed for 13.80 ± 4.20 days. The foragers settled in the annexure hives and started foraging after 18.20 ± 2.49 days. The advancing fronts were observed at 26.67 ± 2.58 days after the addition of the laying queen in the established annexure hives. There was a significant increase in the number of inhive workers after the queen seeding in the annexure hives. This technique is the easiest and most sustainable non-destructive way of multiplication of stingless bee colonies without loss in viability of the perennial wild colony.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66627235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-31DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9160
E. D. Araujo, Hanna Angélica Santos Pinto, W. R. Silva, L. A. Nunes
This study investigated the morphometric variation in Melipona scutellaris stingless bees rational hive boxes from five states, inserted into the natural range of the species occurrence in northeastern Brazil. The cluster analysis (UPGMA) showed three distinct groups by determining the cutoff point. The multivariate analysis were performed using MANOVA and Canonical Variables for the shape analysis. The One-Way ANOVA was used to assess differences in centroid size. The results showed population divergence between localities limited by geographical barriers or great distances, corroborating previous observations by the UPGMA. Variation between colonies inter-state was higher that intra-state and, in most cases, Geometric Morphometrics was effective in identifying the origin of colonies transported to other states, observed in the cross-validation analysis that showed more than 70% of classification accuracy. Geometric Morphometrics could be used to evaluate the introduction of colonies within the kindred meliponary. Natural populations of Melipona scutellaris show a significant variation, which brings important implications to meliponiculture and to conservation strategies for this endangered species.
{"title":"The effect of colony translocation on meliponaries of Melipona scutellaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from northeastern Brazil by morphogeometric analysis","authors":"E. D. Araujo, Hanna Angélica Santos Pinto, W. R. Silva, L. A. Nunes","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9160","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the morphometric variation in Melipona scutellaris stingless bees rational hive boxes from five states, inserted into the natural range of the species occurrence in northeastern Brazil. The cluster analysis (UPGMA) showed three distinct groups by determining the cutoff point. The multivariate analysis were performed using MANOVA and Canonical Variables for the shape analysis. The One-Way ANOVA was used to assess differences in centroid size. The results showed population divergence between localities limited by geographical barriers or great distances, corroborating previous observations by the UPGMA. Variation between colonies inter-state was higher that intra-state and, in most cases, Geometric Morphometrics was effective in identifying the origin of colonies transported to other states, observed in the cross-validation analysis that showed more than 70% of classification accuracy. Geometric Morphometrics could be used to evaluate the introduction of colonies within the kindred meliponary. Natural populations of Melipona scutellaris show a significant variation, which brings important implications to meliponiculture and to conservation strategies for this endangered species.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49172824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-31DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8497
T. T. Maciel, B. C. Barbosa, F. Prezoto
Since some social wasp species are sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as bioindicators, the objective of the present study was to analyze the variation in the fauna of social wasps during the phases: before, during, and after completion, as well as to validate the use of wasps as a tool for monitoring the impacts generated by the implantation of the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Social wasps were sampled through active searching methods, searching for nests and attractive traps in the years 2011 and 2012 (before the construction), 2013, 2014, and 2016 (during the construction), and 2019 (after the construction and opening of the Botanical Garden). The richness and similarity of the species varied over the years, and it was possible to identify resistant and sensitive species to the impact caused by the implantation of the Botanical Garden. Studies with social wasp fauna conducted over many years in the same area can be an efficient tool in monitoring impacts; in addition, it is necessary to have a partnership between researchers and the management of the enterprises to mitigate the effects caused by guidelines and environmental education.
{"title":"Fluctuation in the richness of social wasps throughout a large construction project","authors":"T. T. Maciel, B. C. Barbosa, F. Prezoto","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8497","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8497","url":null,"abstract":"Since some social wasp species are sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as bioindicators, the objective of the present study was to analyze the variation in the fauna of social wasps during the phases: before, during, and after completion, as well as to validate the use of wasps as a tool for monitoring the impacts generated by the implantation of the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Social wasps were sampled through active searching methods, searching for nests and attractive traps in the years 2011 and 2012 (before the construction), 2013, 2014, and 2016 (during the construction), and 2019 (after the construction and opening of the Botanical Garden). The richness and similarity of the species varied over the years, and it was possible to identify resistant and sensitive species to the impact caused by the implantation of the Botanical Garden. Studies with social wasp fauna conducted over many years in the same area can be an efficient tool in monitoring impacts; in addition, it is necessary to have a partnership between researchers and the management of the enterprises to mitigate the effects caused by guidelines and environmental education.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":"3 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41244976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-31DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.7903
Rachid Hamidi, J. de Biseau, Y. Quinet
In most ant species, workers have retained functional ovaries, allowing them to potentially lay viable unfertilized eggs that develop into males. Mechanisms (ex.: queen and/or worker policing) have nevertheless evolved to control worker reproduction when the queen is present. In many species with a high degree of polygyny, especially in tramp species, complete sterility of workers has evolved, presumably to “trap” them within their “worker phenotype”. Our study showed for the first time that in the highly polygynous and polydomous ant Crematogaster pygmaea, workers retained the full capacity to produce reproductive eggs in queenless colonies, with at least some of them developing in adult males. We provide evidence that worker-produced males are reproductively functional. Although most queenless colonies produced eggs, few larvae developed into pupae and adult males. We conclude that workers strongly police the worker-produced offspring, even in the queen's absence. Probable high relatedness between queens of C. pygmaea colonies and strong genetic proximity between brood and workers could force the workers in their helper, non-reproductive function even if they keep the ability to reproduce. Our observations indicate that the production of adult males and gynes in C. pygmaea is controlled by seasonal factors related to the rainy season.
{"title":"Worker Reproduction in the Highly Polygynous Ant Crematogaster pygmaea Forel, 1904 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)","authors":"Rachid Hamidi, J. de Biseau, Y. Quinet","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.7903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.7903","url":null,"abstract":"In most ant species, workers have retained functional ovaries, allowing them to potentially lay viable unfertilized eggs that develop into males. Mechanisms (ex.: queen and/or worker policing) have nevertheless evolved to control worker reproduction when the queen is present. In many species with a high degree of polygyny, especially in tramp species, complete sterility of workers has evolved, presumably to “trap” them within their “worker phenotype”. Our study showed for the first time that in the highly polygynous and polydomous ant Crematogaster pygmaea, workers retained the full capacity to produce reproductive eggs in queenless colonies, with at least some of them developing in adult males. We provide evidence that worker-produced males are reproductively functional. Although most queenless colonies produced eggs, few larvae developed into pupae and adult males. We conclude that workers strongly police the worker-produced offspring, even in the queen's absence. Probable high relatedness between queens of C. pygmaea colonies and strong genetic proximity between brood and workers could force the workers in their helper, non-reproductive function even if they keep the ability to reproduce. Our observations indicate that the production of adult males and gynes in C. pygmaea is controlled by seasonal factors related to the rainy season.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45950844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-31DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8333
M. Kekeçoğlu, Songül Bir, M. K. Acar
In this study, we report that there were five different subspecies and three different ecotypes defined so far in Türkiye, which has a rich biodiversity in terms of honeybee subspecies. However, recently, it has been thought that the current biodiversity is in danger of extinction due to the commercial queen bee supply and the migratory beekeeping activities from a single source. This study uses the morphometric method to reveal the current status of honeybee biodiversity in Türkiye. For this purpose, a total of 3186 worker bees were studied by samplings from 19 different provinces to represent the honeybee races and ecotypes distributed in Türkiye. We made wing preparations and established 19 landmarks on the right forewings using the BAB BsPro200 program. The program automatically obtained the wing’s metrics’ angle, length, and index values via these 19 landmarks. We used Discriminant function analysis to determine intragroup and intergroup variations by taking the colony averages from data obtained from 31 morphological characters. Given the canonical discriminant function analysis and UPGMA dendrogram, Zonguldak, Düzce, Sakarya, Artvin, Ardahan, and Trabzon constituted a group, and Edirne, Kilis, Van, and Isparta formed a separate group. Hakkari, Kahramanmaraş, and Ordu provinces formed a separate line together. On the other hand, the group centers of Kars and Kırklareli, two different ends of Türkiye, overlapped and formed a close line with Isparta. As a result, this study revealed that, although the protection measures taken at the local level effectively protected the honeybee biodiversity, these measures are insufficient.
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