Evidence of Nest Reactivation and Perennial Colonies in the Neotropical Bumble Bee Bombus brevivillus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombini).

Bombus brevivillus Franklin is a Neotropical Bombus species whose colonies are disappearing from most of its native range, and little is known about its biology and reproductive habits to help conservation or breeding efforts. Unlike Bombus species from temperate climates whose colonies perish every winter, there are suggestions of perennial colonies that Neotropical Bombus species can present. In this work, we investigated the development of two B. brevivillus colonies (i.e., number of workers, gynes, males, new cocoons, and brood area) between August 2012 and March 2013. We realized that while one colony collapsed and died after the males' and gynes' production, and the reduction of numbers of adult workers, in the other, a new queen assumed the posture at this phase and reactivated the old nest. Despite the reduced number of colonies investigated, this study shows the possibility of nest reactivation in the studied species in queen supersedure events in resemblance to perennial colonies of eusocial bees like Apis species and stingless bees. Such behavior has never been directly described to B. brevivillus in previous studies and opens the possibility for further research in the existence and the extension of perennial colonies in Neotropical Bombus species due to its importance to the species conservation in the tropical environment.

Effects of Climate Variability on Queen Production and Pollen Preferences of Neotropical Bumblebee Bombus atratus in a High Andean Suburban Condition.

Bombus atratus Franklin is a widely distributed bumblebee of South America. In Colombia, this species is recognized for its ability to adapt to highly disturbed habitats. However, knowledge of its ecology is poorly known, in particular conditions to ensure the long-term conservation of its populations. Identification of pollen resources is an important issue that could be used as a tool to manage and conserve bumblebees. In tropical areas, rainfall patterns could affect floral phenology and therefore the availability of pollen resources. Considering this, the present work aimed to establish the effect of extreme weather conditions (El Niño) in pollen availability, use of pollinic sources, and gyne production in B. atratus colonies. We reared and located 14 B. atratus colonies in a suburban area during a dry season (ENSO "El Niño") and a rainy season (ENSO "La Niña"). We registered time to gyne production and numbers of gynes produced per colony. We extracted pollen samples to establish both its floral origin and its relative abundance. We measured floral offer for each season. The data of pollen use per colony were utilized to perform Bipartite networks. We analyzed the production of gynes and pollen use per season with correlation models and generalized linear models. Colonies of the rainy season produced more gynes and faster. The floral diversity and offer were higher during the rainy season. Successful colonies used specific pollen sources in two seasons, independently of the floral offer. Extreme dry season affected development of B. atratus colonies.

The Adenylate-Forming Enzymes AfeA and TmpB Are Involved in Aspergillus nidulans Self-Communication during Asexual Development.

Aspergillus nidulans asexual sporulation (conidiation) is triggered by different environmental signals and involves the differentiation of specialized structures called conidiophores. The elimination of genes flbA-E, fluG, and tmpA results in a fluffy phenotype characterized by delayed conidiophore development and decreased expression of the conidiation essential gene brlA. While flbA-E encode regulatory proteins, fluG and tmpA encode enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of independent signals needed for normal conidiation. Here we identify afeA and tmpB as new genes encoding members the adenylate-forming enzyme superfamily, whose inactivation cause different fluffy phenotypes and decreased conidiation and brlA expression. AfeA is most similar to unknown function coumarate ligase-like (4CL-Lk) enzymes and consistent with this, a K544N active site modification eliminates AfeA function. TmpB, identified previously as a larger homolog of the oxidoreductase TmpA, contains a NRPS-type adenylation domain. A high degree of synteny in the afeA-tmpA and tmpB regions in the Aspergilli suggests that these genes are part of conserved gene clusters. afeA, tmpA, and tmpB double and triple mutant analysis as well as afeA overexpression experiments indicate that TmpA and AfeA act in the same conidiation pathway, with TmpB acting in a different pathway. Fluorescent protein tagging shows that functional versions of AfeA are localized in lipid bodies and the plasma membrane, while TmpA and TmpB are localized at the plasma membrane. We propose that AfeA participates in the biosynthesis of an acylated compound, either a p-cuomaryl type or a fatty acid compound, which might be oxidized by TmpA and/or TmpB, while TmpB adenylation domain would be involved in the activation of a hydrophobic amino acid, which in turn would be oxidized by the TmpB oxidoreductase domain. Both, AfeA-TmpA and TmpB signals are involved in self-communication and reproduction in A. nidulans.

Colony cycle of the social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Colony cycle of the social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). This study describes some aspects of the colony cycle of the Neotropical social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis, from data obtained under field conditions. Our results showed that the colony cycle in M. consimilis is annual and asynchronous in relation to the months of the year. The colonies remained active for approximately eight months. Most of the abandonments were associated with natural causes, and were most frequent in the pre-emergence stage. The nests were constructed preferentially in man-made structures, especially in sites protected from direct sunlight and rain. Colony foundation was either by haplometrosis or pleometrosis, being the first form predominant.

Ciclo colonial da vespa social Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Este estudo descreve alguns aspectos do ciclo colonial da vespa social Neotropical Mischocyttarus consimilis, sendo realizado em condições de campo. Os resultados desse estudo mostraram que o ciclo colonial em M. consimilis é anual, bem como assincrônico em relação aos meses do ano. Em geral, as colônias permanecem em atividade por aproximadamente oito meses. Os abandonos de colônia estão associados principalmente a causas naturais, e são mais freqüentes na fase colonial de pré-emergência. Os ninhos são estabelecidos preferencialmente em construções humanas, especialmente em locais protegidos da incidência direta de luz solar e água da chuva. Fundações de colônia ocorrem por uma ou outra forma haplometrose ou pleometrose, sendo a primeira predominante.

Protein suplementation effect on the collected pollen amount and on africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies development / Efeito da suplementação protéica sobre a quantidade de pólen coletado e o desenvolvimento de colônias de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera)

The work was developed aiming to check on how the Africanized honey bees behave toward pollen collection and also toward development of brood areas, honey and pollen when lhe bees are fed with sugar syrup plus a protein supplement to which pollen, soybean meal and sugar are added to. Colonies which have been fed with supplement have yielded 60.62g of pollen, (dairy average) from May to November of 1994; a quantity significantly bigger (p 0.05) by the F test, as compared to colonies vhich have received only sugar syrup (36.1Og/day). Pollen collection for the same period increased on a linear basis and corresponding monthly averages can be represented by the equation: Y = 15.19186 + 4.14653X (R2 = 0.757). As to brood and honey areas there have not been significant differences between treated and non-treated colonies, though the smallest measurements have been obtained between July and August. Pollen area however has been significantly smaller (p 0.05) in colonies which had received protein supplementary food (5.22dm2) in relation to control colonies (11.29dm2), and smaller obtained measurements were collected during July.

O Trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar como as colônias de abelhas africanizadas se comportam em relação à coleta de pólen e ao desenvolvimento das áreas dos favos ocupadas com cria, mel e pólen, quando alimentadas com xarope de açúcar mais um suple-mento protéico composto de pólen, farinha de soja e açúcar. As colônias que receberam este suplemento produziram uma média diária de 60,62g de pólen, de maio a novembro de 1994, quantidade significativamente maior (p 0,05), pelo teste F, do que as que somente receberam xarope de açúcar (36,10g/dia). A coleta de pólen no mesmo período aumentou linearmente, podendo as médias mensais serem representadas pela equação: Y = 15,19186 + 4,14653X (R2 = 0,757). Quanto às áreas de cria e mel, não ocorreram diferenças significativas entre as colônias tratadas e não tratadas, sendo que as menores medidas foram obtidas entre os meses de julho e agosto. A área de pólen, no entanto, foi significativamente menor (p 0,05) nas colônias que receberam alimento protéico (5,22dm2) em relação às testemunhas (11,29dm2),sendo as menores medidas obtidas durante o mês de julho.

Protein suplementation effect on the collected pollen amount and on africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies development / Efeito da suplementação protéica sobre a quantidade de pólen coletado e o desenvolvimento de colônias de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera)

The work was developed aiming to check on how the Africanized honey bees behave toward pollen collection and also toward development of brood areas, honey and pollen when lhe bees are fed with sugar syrup plus a protein supplement to which pollen, soybean meal and sugar are added to. Colonies which have been fed with supplement have yielded 60.62g of pollen, (dairy average) from May to November of 1994; a quantity significantly bigger (p 0.05) by the F test, as compared to colonies vhich have received only sugar syrup (36.1Og/day). Pollen collection for the same period increased on a linear basis and corresponding monthly averages can be represented by the equation: Y = 15.19186 + 4.14653X (R2 = 0.757). As to brood and honey areas there have not been significant differences between treated and non-treated colonies, though the smallest measurements have been obtained between July and August. Pollen area however has been significantly smaller (p 0.05) in colonies which had received protein supplementary food (5.22dm2) in relation to control colonies (11.29dm2), and smaller obtained measurements were collected during July.

O Trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de verificar como as colônias de abelhas africanizadas se comportam em relação à coleta de pólen e ao desenvolvimento das áreas dos favos ocupadas com cria, mel e pólen, quando alimentadas com xarope de açúcar mais um suple-mento protéico composto de pólen, farinha de soja e açúcar. As colônias que receberam este suplemento produziram uma média diária de 60,62g de pólen, de maio a novembro de 1994, quantidade significativamente maior (p 0,05), pelo teste F, do que as que somente receberam xarope de açúcar (36,10g/dia). A coleta de pólen no mesmo período aumentou linearmente, podendo as médias mensais serem representadas pela equação: Y = 15,19186 + 4,14653X (R2 = 0,757). Quanto às áreas de cria e mel, não ocorreram diferenças significativas entre as colônias tratadas e não tratadas, sendo que as menores medidas foram obtidas entre os meses de julho e agosto. A área de pólen, no entanto, foi significativamente menor (p 0,05) nas colônias que receberam alimento protéico (5,22dm2) em relação às testemunhas (11,29dm2),sendo as menores medidas obtidas durante o mês de julho.