Non-ovipositing nurse workers with developed ovaries in trigona cilipes cilipes (Hymenoptera, Meliponini)

ABSTRACT

Numerous species of tropical stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) have workers that lay eggs even inthe presence of a queen, i.e., queenright colonies. These worker eggs, which are laid during cell provisioningand oviposition process (POP), are eaten mainly by the queen. In this work, we studied POP in a colonyof Trigona cilipes in the queenright and queenless stages. POP behavior was observed on 67 occasions. Inaddition, the ovaries of different aged workers in both stages were analyzed. Although workers in both stagesof the colony possessed developed ovaries, they never oviposited, despite showing behavior similar to thatseen in species with workers which lay eggs. This form of sterility is outstanding among social insects andis comparable only to other meliponines that have fully sterile workers.