Evaluation of caulote tree leafs (Guazuma ulmifolia Lam) as human´s nutrient.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

“Intra and interspecific morphological variation of Melipona beechei, M. solani and M. yucatanica from Guatemalaâ€

The main purpose of the study was to analyze the morphometrics variations of the heads and right forewings of the three species of Guatemalan stingless bees of the genus Melipona. We used multivariate statistical analyses at infraspecific and interspecific levels to evaluate Melipona beecheii, M. solani and M. yucatanica populations.

A total of 305 specimens of the LENAP´s entomological collection were used. These adult female workers were collected at different localities (meliponaries) across Guatemala. From each of the localities 10 heads and right forewing were dissected and scanned, and we pointed 14 homologous landmarks of the head and 12 landmarks of the wings for the traditional morphometry analysis.

The results at interspecific level showed significant head and wing shape differences between the three species, supporting the previous taxonomic classification of the stingless bees of Guatemala in M. beecheii, M. solani and M. yucatanica (Ayala, 1999). The intraspecific comparisons showed distinct patterns of differences: M. beecheii showed no significant differences, suggesting a strong colonies movement across the country since the Mayan civilization and still moving until the present day, and some degree of gene flow between neighboring localities. Within M. solani and M. yucatanica there is a separation between populations from different geographic origins. Population from Nuevo Progreso, San Marcos, formed a separate subcluster in the case of M. solani, and two populations from Jutiapa reveal significant differences. Ecological local adaptations could be responsible for these morpohological divergences.