Cell provisioning and oviposition in Melipona beecheii (Apidae, Meliponinae),with a note on caste determination

Abstract

We examined the food provisioning and oviposition process (POP) for worker- and gyne-producing cells of Melipona beecheii. POPs for both castes did not differ significantly in duration and number of trophic eggs oviposited by workers in the cells. The frequency of food discharges by workers in gyne-producing cells was significantly less than in worker-producing cells. This result is discussed in relation with caste determination. Seventy percent of all POPs took place at night. We hypothesized that foraging activities during the daytime reduced the number of workers available in the nest for provision of food to workers that participated in the POPs. It was found that the number of trophic eggs laid by workers during a POP was positively correlated to the preceding extra-oviposition period.