Multifemale Nests and Rudimentary Castes of an "Almost" Solitary Bee Ceratina flavipes, with Additional Observations on Multifemale Nests of Ceratina japonica (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)

概要

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Artificial induction of ♀♀ nests was tried for an almost solitary bee Ceratina flavipes in 1980 and 1984. Only 5 out of 48 nests reared brood successfully. This species seems less apt to form ♀♀ nests for ecological and ethological reasons. Nevertheless, in those five ♀♀ nests the establishment of rudimentary caste system was confirmed. Task allocation exhibited between the larger and smaller females (L, S) as in C. japonica, basically L functioning for guarding and oviposition and S for pollen foraging and feeding, although the division of labor was less stable than in C. japonica. In two ♀♀ nests induced in 1984, most eggs laid by L were eaten and replaced by eggs of S. The similar trait was also observed in six ♀♀ nests of C. japonica induced artificially in 1985. The above results show that caste system is structured fairly well before its full functioning. The way to escape from such cul-de-sac may be the inhibition of ovarian development of S, as is actually known in some natural ♀♀ nests of C. japonica.
日本昆虫学会の論文
1987-09-25