Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A case of multiple mating in stingless bees (Meliponinae)

  • Published:
Insectes Sociaux Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary:

In several stingless bee species many males aggregate in the vicinity of a nest when a virgin queen is present in the colony and is preparing for the nuptial flight. We report such male assemblage for Tetragonisca angustula. The departure of a virgin queen from the colony and the subsequent mating could be video-recorded, because the queen and the males that had mounted her fell to the ground. Since at least two males had lost their genitalia, multiple mating seems to have occurred. This is in contrast with the prevailing view found in literature concerning the mating biology of stingless bees.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecologia, IB-USP, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, no. 321, C.P. 11461, CEP 05422-970, São Paulo, Brazil. E-mail: vlifonse@usp.br, , , , , , BR

    V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, E. T. Matos & H. H. W. Velthuis

  2. Departamento de Ecologia, FFCL-USP, Campus Ribeirão Preto, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. E-mail: fhnferre@usp.br, , , , , , BR

    F. Ferreira

Authors
  1. V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. T. Matos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. H. W. Velthuis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received 15 December 1997; revised 10 February 1998; accepted 16 February 1998.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Imperatriz-Fonseca, V., Matos, E., Ferreira, F. et al. A case of multiple mating in stingless bees (Meliponinae) . Insectes soc. 45, 231–233 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000400050083

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000400050083

Search

Navigation