The reorganization of the ventral nerve cord (VNC) during metamorphosis of M. quadrifasciata was observed to be characterized by shortening of connectives and subsequent fusion of the 2nd and 3rd thoracic and the 1st abdominal ganglia. Also, the 5th to 7th abdominal ganglia came into very close contact. These changes were accompanied by increasing levels of endogenous ecdysteroids, as determine...

The Afrotropic subgenus Deranchylaeus; of the colletid bee genus Hylaeus is revised for the first time on the basis of all the available type material. Here, 28 new synonymies were detected: Prosopis flaviscutum Alfken and Hylaeus graaffi Cockerell = H. curvicarinatus (Cameron); H. microstictus Cockerell = dregei (Strand); H. bequaertianus Bridwell and H. ogilviei Cockerell = H. gabonicus (Vach...

Geopropolis is a product containing wax, plant resin, and soil particles. It is elaborated by stingless bees of tribe Meliponini. Methanol extracts of sample of geopropolis produced by Scaptotrigona postica ("mandaguari") in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN, northeast Brazil) were analyzed for the determination of standard parameters (total phenols, total flavonoids, and radical scavenging ...

Like ants and termites some species of stingless bees (Meliponini), which are very important pollinators in the tropics, use pheromone trails to communicate the location of a food source. We present data on the communicative role of mandibular gland secretions of Meliponini that resolve a recent controversy about their importance in the laying of such trails. Volatile constituents of the mandib...