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Behavioural development and abdomen inflation of gynes and newly mated queens of Melipona beecheii (Apidae, Meliponinae)
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 1999-06-28) Van Veen, Johan; Sommeijer, M; Aguilar Monge, I
The behaviour of gynes of Melipona beecheii in queen-deprived colonies was studied. The period after emergence until acceptance is characterized by agonistic behaviour of workers towards the gynes. The gynes escaped from this worker aggression by hiding in the periphery of the nest, by performing rapid turn-arounds once grabbed by a worker, and „feigning death“. Between acceptance and nup tial flight, gynes spent most of their time in pushing, hiding, and antennal contact with workers, and self-grooming or food solicitation. After the nuptial flight the queen’s be havioural repertoire shifted to less pushing and food solicita tion, to an increase in standing, tapping and antennal contact. Accepted gynes had a significantly more prolonged ab domen inflation than gynes that were eliminated. An hypothesis is presented to explain how abdomen enlargement and behavioural development influences the acceptance of gynes and the establishment of a dominance relation with workers under queenless conditions.