Caracterização de indivíduos reprodutivos oriundos de realeiras em Plebeia flavocincta Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae) a partir de colônias manejadas

Abstract

Due to the lack of information about the reproductive particularities of Plebeia flavocincta and the fact that little has been studied about it, the present study aims to be the first to investigate the aspects related to its reproductive biology. Therefore, the behavior of newly emerged virgin queens and their effects on workers were assessed as the first phase of the assisted multiplication process. Subsequently, preliminary controlled mating trials were carried out using a portion of these gynes. The observations reveal that the gynes of this species displayed effective dominance-imposing mechanisms within the first few hours of life. This behavior was also spontaneously associated with the construction of cerumen chambers, in which 90,9% of the observed gynes actively participated. Hence, it was observed that the actions leading to the construction of these chambers constituted a self-coordinated protection system by the virgin queens, rather than an act of “imprisonment”. Through this process, they gradually established dominance over the workers, thereby increasing the survival time of these reproductive females. About the preliminary controlled mating trials, although only five virgin queens were used, four successfully formed new colonies, resulting in an 80% success rate. This indicates a promising method to be tested with a higher number of repetitions. The external environmental context also proved to be an important factor, serving as a stimulus in determining the ideal moment for individuals from the newly formed colony to leave laboratory confinement, and establish a new nest. However, it was possible to form new P. flavocincta nests using minimal resources from mother colonies by using virgin queens under the method of isolated observation in protocolonies as the first step of multiplication. Additionally, the preliminary study of mating events among individuals of this species proved to be a starting point for future, more in-dept assessments to be carried out.