Comparative study of mandibular glands of Melipona bicolor queens obtained from polygynic and monogynic colonies.
The aim of the present study was analyze, by histological and morphometrical studies, mandibular glands of Melipona bicolor queens collected from monogynic and polygynic colonies and compare their level of development. The results showed that the glands ofphysogastric queens from monogynic colony present a higher level of activity in relation to the queens of polygynic colonies; this is explained by the fact that just a unique queen controls the monogynic colony. In the polygynic colonies, the queens may divide such control to each other.
Fioretti Gracioli-Vitti
Luciana
L
Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brasil. lucifg@ms.rc.unesp.br
Camargo Abdalla
Fábio
F
Morelli Silva de Moraes
Regina Lúcia
RL
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D048429:Cell Size; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008334:Mandible / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012919:Social Behavior; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D010675:Pheromones