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Hygienic behaviour in Brazilian stingless bees.

Hasan Al Toufailia1, Denise A Alves2, José M S Bento2

  • 1Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK Ha214@sussex.ac.uk.

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Hygienic behavior in stingless bees (Meliponini) involves removing diseased brood, crucial for colony health. This defense mechanism is highly effective, surpassing that of honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Keywords:
DiseasesHygienic behaviourMeliponaScaptotrigonaStingless beesTetragonisca

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Area of Science:

  • Social insect behavior
  • Apiculture and Bee Health
  • Insect Pathology

Background:

  • Social insects possess defense mechanisms against pests and pathogens.
  • Hygienic behavior, the removal of diseased brood, is a key defense in honey bees (Apis mellifera).
  • Stingless bees (Meliponini) also rear brood in sealed cells, making them susceptible to disease transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify hygienic behavior in three Brazilian stingless bee species.
  • To compare the hygienic behavior of stingless bees with that of honey bees.
  • To explore the relationship between hygienic behavior and disease prevalence in stingless bee colonies.

Main Methods:

  • Freeze-killed brood was introduced to colonies of Melipona scutellaris, Scaptotrigona depilis, and Tetragonisca angustula.
  • The percentage of freeze-killed brood removed within 48 hours was recorded for each species.
  • Disease symptoms in emerging adult bees were monitored, and correlations with brood removal rates were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • All three stingless bee species exhibited high levels of freeze-killed brood removal (62-99%), exceeding that of unselected honey bee populations (approx. 46%).
  • Significant intercolony variation in removal rates was observed in Scaptotrigona depilis.
  • In a diseased Scaptotrigona depilis colony, slower brood removal correlated with a higher incidence of deformed adult bees, suggesting hygienic behavior prevents disease spread.

Conclusions:

  • Hygienic behavior is a significant factor in maintaining colony health in stingless bees.
  • The low disease levels observed in stingless bees are likely due to effective disease management, not an absence of pathogens.
  • Hygienic colonies effectively detect and remove unhealthy brood before adult emergence.