Scientific Note: Warming Nurses, a New Worker Role Recorded for the First Time in Stingless Bees

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Insect Physiology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Nest temperature is critical for social insect colony survival and brood development.
• Thermoregulation is essential for maintaining stable colony temperatures and individual activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate heat production by nurse bees in the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris.
• To identify novel thermoregulatory behaviors in social insects.

Main Methods:

• Measurement of heat production by nurse bees on brood combs.
• Comparison of thorax surface temperature between different bees within the brood area.

Main Results:

• Identification of a subset of nurse bees, termed 'hot bees', with significantly higher thorax temperatures (4°C above average).
• These 'hot bees' were observed working on brood combs.

Conclusions:

• 'Hot bees' represent a newly identified task in stingless bee colonies.
• This phenomenon likely results from muscle activity or musculature development in young bees.
• These 'hot bees' are hypothesized to contribute to maintaining optimal warmth in the nest brood area, enhancing colony survival.