info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Dose- and time-dependent effects of oral octopamine treatments on the sucrose responsiveness in stingless bees (Melipona scutellaris)
Fecha
2017-02Registro en:
Mc Cabe, Sofia Ines; Benetoli Ferro, Marco; Farina, Walter Marcelo; Hrncir, Michael; Dose- and time-dependent effects of oral octopamine treatments on the sucrose responsiveness in stingless bees (Melipona scutellaris); Springer; Apidologie; 48; 1; 2-2017; 1-7
0044-8435
1297-9678
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
Mc Cabe, Sofia Ines
Benetoli Ferro, Marco
Farina, Walter Marcelo
Hrncir, Michael
Resumen
Biogenic amines modulate physiological responses and, consequently, the behaviour of animals. Here, we present the first pharmacological approach to evaluate the influence of octopamine (OA) in stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini), a group of highly eusocial bees distributed in the tropical and southern subtropical areas of the globe. In sucrose response threshold assays, foragers of Melipona scutellaris showed an increased responsiveness to sucrose after oral OA treatments. The effect of OA on the bees’ responsiveness to sucrose was OA dose-dependent and lasted for up to 1 h. Our results indicate that experimental approaches similar to the ones used for honey bees, Apis mellifera, are feasible for stingless bees. This opens opportunities to study the variability of aminergic regulation of collective behaviour in social bees.