Behaviour of drones in Melipona (Apidae, Meliponinae)

Summary:

The behaviour of drones of different species of Melipona was studied in Costa Rica and on Tobago. Drones of all species behaved very similarly. The intranidal behavioural analysis indicates that drones spent most time on standing, walking, stirring the antennae and self-grooming. The only "typical worker behaviour", occasionally performed by 16 to 18 days old drones of Melipona, was the participation in nectar dehydrating. The age-relatedness and location in the nest where a behaviour is performed is being discussed. Worker aggression against drones was observed only three times. The behaviour of drones when they leave the nest is described. Drones leave the nest mainly between 8 and 11 AM, at an average age of 18.6 days. It was observed that drones do not return after they have once left the hive. A description is given of a nest-associated drone aggregation of Melipona fasciata on a wall. Drones of this species stayed in the aggregation for an average of 7.6 days, spending most time on standing or flying in a "cloud" near the nest entrance. They spent about five hours daily on the average and may leave the aggregation temporary. Drones were able to live up to 74 days in a closed hive, the average being 45 days. Implications of drone behaviour for the mating biology of stingless bees are discussed.