Frequency of social nesting in the sweat bee Megalopta genalis (Halictidae) does not vary across a rainfall gradient, despite disparity in brood production and body size

Tierney, Simon M.; Fischer, Caleb N.; Rehan, Sandra M.; Kapheim, Karen M.; Wcislo, William T.

doi:10.1007/s00040-012-0280-4

Cited by 13 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Danforth and Eickwort (1997), in their review of social behavior in the Augochlorini, tabulated nearly 40 species for which there had been some indication of social behavior, but they considered that there was sound information for only 13 of them. Direct observation of behavior within the nests has been carried out among Augochlorini only for the solitary Augochlora pura in the laboratory (Stockhammer 1966), and for the facultatively eusocial Megalopta genalis through manipulation of natural nests and artificial observation nests in the field (Wcislo and Gonza ´lez 2006;Smith et al 2009;Kapheim et al 2011;Tierney et al 2013). The purpose of this contribution is to present detailed information on the social behavior of Augochlora (Augochlora) phoemonoe (Schrottky) reared in artificial nests in the laboratory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social biology of Augochlora (Augochlora) phoemonoe (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) reared in laboratory nests

Dalmazzo

Roig‐Alsina

2015

Insect. Soc.

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Species of the subgenus Augochlora have been considered solitary, and their behavior was postulated as a reversal from the social condition known for its closest relatives. In this study, conclusive evidence of eusocial behavior in the wood-dwelling subgenus Augochlora is presented. Direct observation of behavior within artificial nests in the laboratory allowed studying the suite of behaviors that characterize social structure in the species Augochlora (Augochlora) phoemonoe. The following behaviors were recorded and analyzed: locomotion, feeding, construction activities within the nest, pollen collecting, guarding, oviposition, sudden retreats, antennation-tarsation, passing, and following. The last three behaviors represented interactions between nestmates. Social behavior in this temperate South American species is characterized by: a solitary nest initiation phase, followed by an eusocial phase with at least two broods; the small size of the colonies, with 1-3 first-brood females during the summer foraging period; the long-lived foundresses, alive until the end of the season; lack of morphological differentiation between dominant and subordinate individuals, evidenced by size only, but strong physiological differentiation, with a high reproductive skew; short egg-to-adult developmental time (approximately 30 days); and delayed male production to the second or subsequent broods. Indexes of division of labor ranged between 0.32 and 0.76 for the studied nests, indicating behavioral specialization between colony members. During the eusocial phase, daughter bees had the highest frequencies of construction, pollen collection and guarding. Colony integration was mediated by high rates of social interactions, initiated by the foundress.

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