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The alternative Pharaoh approach: stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive
Mark K Greco1, Dorothee Hoffmann, Anne Dollin
1Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station ALP, CH-3033, Bern, Switzerland. mark.greco@alp.admin.ch
Die Naturwissenschaften
|December 10, 2009
Summary
Stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) protect their colonies by mummifying invading small hive beetles alive. This unique defense prevents beetle reproduction and colony damage, unlike in honeybees.
Area of Science:
- Social insect behavior
- Parasite-host interactions
- Entomology
Background:
- Social insect colonies face threats from parasitic invaders.
- Some parasites, like small hive beetles, evade typical defenses, necessitating novel strategies for colony survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the defense mechanisms of stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) against invading small hive beetles (Aethina tumida).
- To understand the effectiveness of stingless bee defense strategies in preventing parasite-induced colony damage and reproduction.
Main Methods:
- Diagnostic radioentomology was employed to observe the interaction between stingless bee workers and invading beetles.
- Analysis of the mummification process involving a mixture of resin, wax, and mud.
Main Results:
- Stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) rapidly mummify live adult small hive beetles (Aethina tumida).
- This mummification involves coating the beetles with resin, wax, and mud, effectively immobilizing them.
- The live mummification strategy prevents beetle advancement and reproduction, contrasting with honeybee and bumblebee responses.
Conclusions:
- The live mummification strategy is a highly effective defense for stingless bees against small hive beetles.
- This represents a convergent evolution of defense mechanisms, similar to encapsulation in honeybees, highlighting co-evolution between social insects and their parasites.
