Researchers Discover Jatai Soldier Bees
Posted on January 10, 2012
Scientists from the University of Sussex have discovered the first soldier bees. The larger bees act as guards in nests of Jatai bees (Tetragonisca angustula), which live in trees and wall cavaties in Sao Paulo State in Brazil.
Large-headed soldier ants and termites are well-known examples of this specialization. However, this is the first known equivalent example of physical worker subcastes in social bees or wasps. The large soldier bee is pictured on the right next to a regular sized Jatai forager bee in the photograph above.
The Jatai soldier bees are 30% heavier than foragers and of different shape; foragers have relatively larger heads, whereas guards have larger legs. Approximately one per cent of workers bees reared in a colony are soldier-sized. The Jatai soldier bees guard the nest entrance tube. They also hover near the entrance where they can provide early warning detection of an enemy attack by predators, such as robber bees (Lestrimelitta limao).
The research was published here in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy.
Here are some videos of the soldier bees. The first videos show Jatai soldier bees guarding the entrance to the nest. The last video shows a Jatai soldier bee engaged in a fierce battle with a robber bee. Take a look:
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