The alternative Pharaoh approach: stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive |
| |
Authors: | Mark K Greco Dorothee Hoffmann Anne Dollin Michael Duncan Robert Spooner-Hart Peter Neumann |
| |
Institution: | 1. Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station ALP, CH-3033, Bern, Switzerland 2. Centre for Plant and Food Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, NSW, 1797, Australia 3. Department of Zoology, Martin-Luther-Universit?t Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, 06099, Halle, Saale, Germany 6. KU Leuven, Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Charles Deberiotstraat 32 - bus 2439, 3000, Leuven, Belgium 4. Australian Native Bee Research Centre, North Richmond, NSW, Australia 5. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 61440, Grahamstown, Republic of South Africa
|
| |
Abstract: | Workers from social insect colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders. Nevertheless, some parasitic species
are able to bypass colony defences. In particular, some beetle nest invaders cannot be killed or removed by workers of social
bees, thus creating the need for alternative social defence strategies to ensure colony survival. Here we show, using diagnostic
radioentomology, that stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) immediately mummify invading adult small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) alive by coating them with a mixture of resin, wax and mud, thereby preventing severe damage to the colony. In sharp contrast
to the responses of honeybee and bumblebee colonies, the rapid live mummification strategy of T. carbonaria effectively prevents beetle advancements and removes their ability to reproduce. The convergent evolution of mummification
in stingless bees and encapsulation in honeybees is another striking example of co-evolution between insect societies and
their parasites. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|