Evidence and Action of Cannibalism Substance in Apis Cerana Indica
1980; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00218839.1980.11099992
ISSN2078-6913
Autores Tópico(s)Insect and Pesticide Research
ResumoSummaryOf 26 colonies investigated, 11 were headed by Apis cerana indica queens sibling-mated to several drones. The queens produced diploid drone larvae in about 25% of worker cells. Altogether, 9734 eggs were individually recorded, and the survival rate of brood was monitored on successive days. All the results showed that diploid drone larvae of Apis cerana are not eaten by nurse bees during the first day of larval life as in Apis mellifera. In unfavourable environmental conditions some were eaten in place of worker larvae. Many diploid drone larvae were eaten in their second day of life, but some were reared even until the fourth day, and in favourable conditions some probably reach the adult stage. This suggests that A. cerana diploid drone larvae secrete much less cannibalism substance at the beginning of larval life, but later produce it for a much longer period of life, than do A. mellifera diploid drones.This is another specific difference between the two species of Apis, indicating an earlier evolutionary stage in A. cerana.
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