Karyotypic variation in the stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) from different geographical regions of Brazil

Molecular cytogenetic reveal details of fine chromosomal structure that are useful in studies diversification, genome organization, and evolution. However, these techniques have rarely been used to describe population-level variations the tribe Meliponini. In present study, we compared karyotype, number, localization rDNA clusters distribution a repetitive DNA sequence T. spinipes from nine locations. Although karyotypes with 2n = 34 were found all cases, five different karyotypic formulae detected. The heterochromatin was preferentially associated centromeric regions. microsatellite probe (GA)15 signals localized mainly euchromatic regions chromosomes most analyzed populations. 18S four pairs, except for population Palotina, which showed only two clusters. Analyses revealed variation along geographic distribution, proving not detected when scattered colonies analyzed.