A molecular marker distinguishes the subspecies Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata and Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae)

The genus Melipona (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Meliponinae), represented by more than 40 known species, is limited to the neotropical regions of South and Central America, including the Caribean Islands (Camargo, 1979; Michener, 1979, 1990). In Brazil, Melipona quadrifasciata Lep., known as mandaçaia, may be found along the coast side, from the State of Paraíba to the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Moure and Kerr, 1950). It has been subdivided into two subspecies: Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lep. and Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata Lep., which differ by the presence of three to five continuous yellow stripes on the terga on the 3rd to 6th segments in workers and males of M. q. quadrifasciata, and of two to five interrupted bands in worker and males of M. q. anthidioides (Schwarz, 1948). RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) is a simple and straightforward PCR-based technique which does not require previous knowledge about the sequence being amplified. These markers are extremely useful for genetic and taxonomical population studies (Suazo et al., 1998). These authors detected specific RAPD markers which were able to distinguish races of African and European Apis mellifera. These RAPD markers could also be used for macrogeographic studies of the structure of hybrid zones, where populations differing by a few, or several characteristics, intercross (Futuyma, 1993). These zones can provide important evolutionary information concerning the degree of genetic introgression, the way barriers for genetic exchange work, and also the genetic nature and ecological differences between species (Harrison, 1990). The availability of specific RAPD markers greatly facilitated the study of the hybrid zone formed by two ant species, Solenopsis invicta and S. richteri (Shoemaker et al., 1994). A hybridization zone was detected in some regions of the State of São Paulo and in southern Minas Gerais involving intercrossing between individuals from subspecies M. q. quadrifasciata and M. q. anthidioides. In these areas hybrid individuals with intermediate abdominal yellow stripe patterns can be found (Moure and Kerr, 1950). The main goal of this work was to identify RAPD markers that could distinguish between the subspecies M. q. anthidioides and M. q. quadrifasciata at the molecular level. The marker(s) could then be used for studies of the hybrid zone formed by the intercrossing of the two subspecies.