Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee.
In eusocial Hymenoptera, females are more tolerant towards nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate females. In solitary Hymenoptera, females are generally aggressive towards any conspecific female. Field observations of the nest biology of Manuelia postica suggested nest-mate recognition. Experiments were performed involving two live interacting females or one live female interacting with a dead female. Live females from different nests were more intolerant to each other than females from the same nest. Females were more intolerant towards non-nest-mate than towards nest-mate dead females. When dead females were washed with pentane, no differences in tolerant and intolerant behaviours were detected between non-nest-mate and nest-mate females. Females were more intolerant towards nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a non-nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a nest-mate. The compositions of the cuticular extracts was more similar between females from the same nest than between females from different nests. The results demonstrate for the first time nest-mate recognition mediated by cuticular chemicals in a largely solitary species of Apidae. The position of Manuelia at the base of the Apidae phylogeny suggests that nest-mate recognition in eusocial species apical to Manuelia represents the retention of a primitive capacity in Apidae.
Flores-Prado
Luis
L
Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, Chile. lflores@abulafia.ciencias.uchile.cl
Aguilera-Olivares
Daniel
D
Niemeyer
Hermann M
HM
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000662:veterinary; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D010420:Pentanes / Q000737:chemistry; D012919:Social Behavior
D010420:Pentanes; C033353:pentane