ABSTRACT
In this paper we proposed to estimate the heritability of seven morphological characters that compose the sting apparatus of the Africanized honeybee workers. An experimental design to estimate genetic parameters was based on the method developed by Oldroyd and Moran. This method was modified to eliminate within-colony envinronmental effects associated with the additive genetic variance. The estimated h2 values ranged from 0.74 ñ 0.11 (maximum width of bulb of sting and height of the valve of right lancet) to 0.74 ñ 0.30 (length of the lancet).
Subject(s)
Animals , Bees/genetics , Insect Bites and Stings/genetics , Analysis of Variance , Defense MechanismsABSTRACT
A comparison among the profiles of molecular exclusion chromatography in Sephadex G 100 column of venoms from Apis mellifera adansonii and Africanized honeybees revealed unique peaks which might be used to identify these populations. The venoms from hybrid populations resulting from the reciprocal mating of Apis mellifera adansonii and Africanized honeybees presented unique peaks, probably resulting from a synergistic effect between the parental genomes. The occurrence of characteristic peaks in venoms of hybrid populations might be used to identify these populations as well as to distinguish them from their parents.