Plasticity of stingless bee Melipona fuliginosa Lepeletier to obtain food resources in Amazonia

The stingless bee Melipona fuliginosa Lepeletier is described as being aggressive robber, but there is little information about its raids. Here, we describe two different raids of M. fuliginosa on other Melipona species: Melipona paraensis Ducke and Melipona fasciculata Smith. The robbing behavior was observed in the Volta Grande do Xingu region (Pará) and Carajás National Forest (Pará), and the attacks by M. fuliginosa occurred at the end of the dry season, shortly before the start of the rainy season, a time of flower scarcity. The raid on M. paraensis hive lasted five days and involved no deaths of worker bees of both species; the robbers collected honey and wax. During the pillaging, M. fuliginosa workers dedicated themselves exclusively to this task; their flight activity peaked between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. but lasted until 6:00 p.m, which is atypical for the species. The raid on M. fasciculata differed from the other event because it led to the extermination of all forager workers of fi ve colonies, however, the brood combs as well as the callow workers were preserved; the robbers collected honey and wax. M. fuliginosa attack defensive and non-defensive colonies, the events can cause severe damage and may lead to death of the victim colony in natural conditions. Flight activity varies from foraging on fl owers during dawn to all day long robbing, showing considerable plasticity to obtain food resources. Robbing behavior could be associated to fl ower scarcity and artificial feeding

Filogenia de Deois Fennah, 1949 (Hemiptera, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae) com base em dados morfológicos e descrição de duas novas espécies

Deois Fennah, 1949 é um gênero de cigarrinhas neotropicais com 22 espécies descritas, dividas em quatro subgêneros. Estes insetos pertencem à Cercopidae e são conhecidos como “cigarrinhas-das-pastagens”. São caracterizados por apresentar o posclípeo ovóide; de perfil arredondado, moderadamente inflado e não comprimido lateralmente. Com a finalidade de testar a monofilia de Deois e a validade de seus subgêneros, foi realizada uma análise filogenética com representantes das espécies do gênero e mais duas espécies novas que foram posteriormente descritas, e os representantes do grupo externo, pertencente a Neosphenorhina Distant, 1909, Sphenorhina Amyot & Serville, 1843, Huaina Fennah, 1979, Maxantonia Schmidt, 1922, Deoisella Costa & Sakakibara, 2002 e Orodamnis (Fennah, 1953). Foi realizado um estudo detalhado da morfologia externa e genitália dos representantes com auxílio de microscópio estereoscópico e microscopia eletrônica de varredura, para a construção de uma matriz de dados. A análise resultou em uma árvore mais parcimoniosa de 173 passos e ic= 0,31 e ir= 0,63, representado pela seguinte notação parentética (N. ocellata (N. festa (S. rubra ((H. inca (O. rhynchosporae ((((D. sp. nov. 2 (((De. picklesi, De. fasciata )(D. knighti (D. morialis (D. sexpunctata, D. sp. nov. 1))))(D. spinulata (((D. mourei, D. correntina)(D. piraporae, D. rubropicta))(D. grandis, D. terrea )))))(D. pseudoflavopicta (D. knoblauchii, D. bergi)))(D. crenulata (D. flexuosa, D. coerulea)))(D. schach (D. constricta (D. flavopicta, D. incompleta))))))(M. lobata (M. quadrigutatta, M. plagiata)))))). Deois é suportado pelas sinapomorfias: perfil do posclípeo recuado e edeago curvo em forma de C. Os representantes de Orodamnis e Deoisella apresentaram-se inseridos no grupo interno, confirmando sua inclusão em Deois.Com base no cladograma foram propostas as seguintes mudanças taxonômicas: Deois (Orodamnis) rhynchosporae stat. rev. , Deois (Deois) picklesi comb. nov. , stat. rev. , Deois (Deois) fasciata comb. nov. , Deois (Deois) bergi comb. nov. , Deois (Pandysia) flavopicta comb. nov. , Deois (Pandysia) incompleta comb. nov. e Deois (Fennahia) crenulata comb. nov. Foram descritas duas espécies novas para o gênero: D. (D. ) bisignata sp. nov. e D. (D. ) quadrisignata sp. nov.Deois Fennah, 1949 is a neotropical genus of leafhoppers with 22 described species, divided into four subgenera. These insects belong to Cercopidae and are known as "cigarrinhas-das-pastagens". Are characterized by having the postclypeus ovoid, rounded profile, moderately inflated and not laterally compressed. In order to test the monophyly of Deois and validity of its subgenres, we performed a phylogenetic analysis with representatives of the genus and two new species were later described, and representatives of outgroup belonging to Neosphenorhina Distant, 1909 Sphenorhina Amyot & Serville, 1843, Huaina Fennah, 1979, Maxantonia Schmidt, 1922, Deoisella Costa & Sakakibara, 2002 and Orodamnis (Fennah, 1953). We conducted a detailed study of external morphology and genitalia of representatives with a stereoscopic microscope and scanning electron microscopy, to construct a data matrix. The analysis resulted in one most parsimonious tree of 173 steps and ci= 0. 31 and ri = 0. 63, represented by the following parenthetical notation (N. ocellata (N. festa (S. rubra ((H. inca (O. rhynchosporae ((((D. sp. nov. 2 (((De. picklesi, De. fasciata )(D. knighti (D. morialis (D. sexpunctata, D. sp. nov. 1))))(D. spinulata (((D. mourei, D. correntina)(D. piraporae, D. rubropicta))(D. grandis, D. terrea )))))(D. pseudoflavopicta (D. knoblauchii, D. bergi)))(D. crenulata (D. flexuosa, D. coerulea)))(D. schach (D. constricta (D. flavopicta, D. incompleta))))))(M. lobata (M. quadrigutatta, M. plagiata)))))). Deois is supported by the following synapomorphies: Profile postclypeus retreated and aedeagus curved shape of C. Representatives of Orodamnis and Deoisella presented themselves inserted into the inner group, confirming their inclusion in Deois.Based on the cladogram were proposed following taxonomic changes: Deois (Orodamnis) rhynchosporae stat. rev. , Deois (Deois) picklesi comb. nov. , stat. rev. , Deois (Deois) fasciata comb. nov. , Deois (Deois) bergi comb. nov. , Deois (Pandysia) flavopicta comb. nov. , Deois (Pandysia) incompleta comb. nov. and Deois (Fennahia) crenulata comb. nov. We described two new species of the genus: D. (D. ) bisignata sp. nov. D. (D. ) quadrisignata sp. nov

Characterization of population of Mourella caerulea (Friese, 1900) and Plebeia nigriceps (Friese, 1901) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) through geometric morphometrics of wings, analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons and mtDNA.

Mourella caerulea, popularmente conhecida como mirim-de-chão ou bieira, e Plebeia nigriceps, comumente chamada mirim nigriceps, são meliponíneos ocorrentes no sul do Brasil, polinizadores de plantas nativas e cultivadas. M. caerulea está principalmente relacionada ao bioma Pampa e seu hábito de nidificação é subterrâneo. P. nigriceps nidifica em frestas de rochas e muros, sendo encontrada tanto no Pampa como em Mata Atlântica. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a variabilidade populacional destas duas espécies, através de três metodologias: a morfometria geométrica de asa, perfil de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares e sequenciamento de fragmentos de genes mitocondriais. Foram coletadas operárias de 24 colônias de M. caerulea em cinco localidades de sua distribuição natural e 53 colônias de P. nigriceps em oito localidades no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Para análise do padrão de venação da asa, foram marcados 13 marcos anatômicos na asa anterior direita de cinco a 20 operárias por colônia. A análise genética foi realizada avaliando um fragmento do gene Citocromo Oxidase I em M. caerulea, e Citocromo B em P. nigriceps. A análise morfométrica demonstrou estruturação dos grupos com separação estatisticamente significativa (<0,0001) entre as localidades de M. caerulea. As distâncias morfométricas estão correlacionadas com a distância geográfica, e coerentes com regiões fisiográficas do bioma Pampa. A análise dos perfis de hidrocarbonetos distinguiu colônias de diferentes localidades, mas suas distâncias não apresentaram correlação com as distâncias geográficas. Foram encontrados seis haplótipos, todos exclusivos, com diversidade nucleotídica de 0,01631e uma diversidade haplotípica (Hd) de 0,74. Para P. nigriceps, as análises morfométricas apresentaram diferenças significativas entre localidades e correlação com as distâncias geográficas e biomas. A análise dos perfis de hidrocarbonetos distinguiu colônias de diferentes localidades, mas suas distâncias não apresentaram correlação com as distâncias geográficas. Foram encontrados 17 haplótipos, todos exclusivos, com diversidade nucleotídica de 0,0147 e diversidade haplotípica (Hd) de 0,94. A presença de diversos haplótipos exclusivos, perfis morfométricos e de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares em populações pertencentes a diferentes biomas indicam a necessidade de uma atenção especial para estas populações no momento da definição de estratégias de conservação das espécies. Uma especial atenção às abelhas da espécie Mourella caerulea, que além de ser uma espécie representante única de um gênero monoespecífico, apresenta grandes distâncias populacionais entre os indivíduos de todas as localidades amostradas.Mourella caerulea and Plebeia nigriceps are two stingless bees with occurrence in the South region of Brazil. The first is commonly known as mirim-de-chão or bieira and the second is known as mirim nigriceps. Both species are important pollinators of native flora and crops. M. caerulea is related to Pampa biome and place nests on the ground. P. nigriceps occurs in both Pampa biome and Atlantic Rain Forest. This thesis had the objective of to evaluate the population variability of these species through three techniques: geometric morphometrics of wing, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) profiles and sequencing of fragments from mitochondrial DNA genes. We collected workers from 24 colonies for M. caerulea from five localities, and 53 colonies of P. nigriceps from eight localities in Rio Grande do Sul State. For the geometric morphometrics analysis, we used 13 landmarks plotted in the right forewing of five to 20 workers per nest. The fragments of mtDNA genes used for the molecular approach were from Cytochrome Oxidase I for M. caerulea and Cytochrome B for P. nigriceps. The morphometric approach discriminated the populations of M. caerulea from different localities (<0,0001). The morphometric distances are correlated to geographic distances and go along with the physiographic regions of Pampa biome. CHC profiles differentiated the colonies of M. caerulea from different localities, but chemical distances are not in agreement with geographic distances. We found six haplotypes (all exclusives) with a nucleotide diversity of 0.01631 and a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.74. For P. nigriceps, morphometric analysis was significant separating localities and in accordance with the geographic distances and biomes. CHC distinguished the colonies, but there was no significant correlation between this result and the geographic distances or biomes. mtDNA revealed 17 haplotypes (all exclusives) with a nucleotide diversity of 0.0147 and a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.94. The discovery of different exclusives haplotypes, the morphometric and CHC profiles when comparing population belonging to different biomes indicate that we need to give a particular attention for these species at the moment of create conservation strategies for both biomes from Rio Grande do Sul. M. caerulea deserves a special concern once it is the only species of the monospecific genera, and its populations are distant between themselves

Correction: In vitro larval rearing protocol for the stingless bee species Melipona scutellaris for toxicological studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213109.]

In vitro larval rearing protocol for the stingless bee species Melipona scutellaris for toxicological studies.

Brazil has the highest biodiversity of native stingless bees in the world. However, Brazilian regulations are based on protocols standardized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which uses Apis mellifera as a model organism. The safety of the use of an exotic species as a substitute for a native species is a problem that concerns members of the academy and the government agencies responsible for studies of this nature in the neotropical regions where there are occurrences of stingless bee species. Regarding the exposure of larvae to pesticides, several indicators suggest that the same rearing method for A. mellifera cannot be applied to stingless bees, mainly because of their different feeding systems. Thus, it is necessary to establish an in vitro rearing method for native social bees. We developed a larval rearing method for the stingless bee species Melipona scutellaris and evaluated parameters such as the defecation rate, pupation, emergence, mortality and morphometry of the newly emerged workers. The control was represented by the morphometry of individuals that emerged from natural combs (in vivo). In addition, we determined the average lethal concentration (LC50) of the insecticide dimethoate, the standard active ingredient used for the validation of toxicity tests. Procedures conducted prior to the in vitro bioassays allowed us to obtain the actual dimensions of the rearing cells for making acrylic plates for use in establishing how much each larva consumes during its development, that is, determining how much larval food should be placed in every artificial cell. Tests performed with M. scutellaris indicated an average of 80.2% emergence of individuals relative to the larvae, 92.61% relative to the pupae and a mean of 7.42% larval mortality. The mean of the intertegular distance, head width and wing asymmetry parameters were not significantly different between individuals from the in vitro and in vivo rearing methods. The LC50 value determined was 27.48 ng dimethoate / μL diet. The method described for M. scutellaris showed development rates above OECD standards, which requires at least 75% emergence, and produced newly emerged workers with similar dimensions to those produced under natural conditions; thus these results enable their use as a rearing protocol for this species (or genus) and, consequently, their use in toxicity tests. The results produced with M. scutellaris are the first steps for a proposed toxicity test protocol for stingless bee larvae that can be standardized and included as a protocol in the OECD