The diversity, evolution, and development of setal morphologies in bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus spp.)

PeerJ

article

Heather M. Hines¹  Shelby Kerrin Kilpatrick²  István Mikó²  Daniel Snellings¹  Margarita M. López-Uribe²  Li Tian¹ 

[1]Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

[2]Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

[3]Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station

[4]Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire

[5]Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital

[6]Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University

关键词: Setae;    Pollination;    Pollen;    Bee;    Bombus;    Morphology;    Development;    Systematics;    Pigmentation;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.14555

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Bumble bees are characterized by their thick setal pile that imparts aposematic color patterns often used for species-level identification. Like all bees, the single-celled setae of bumble bees are branched, an innovation thought important for pollen collection. To date no studies have quantified the types of setal morphologies and their distribution on these bees, information that can facilitate understanding of their adaptive ecological function. This study defines several major setal morphotypes in the common eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens Cresson, revealing these setal types differ by location across the body. The positions of these types of setae are similar across individuals, castes, and sexes within species. We analyzed the distribution of the two most common setal types (plumose and spinulate) across the body dorsum of half of the described bumble bee species. This revealed consistently high density of plumose (long-branched) setae across bumble bees on the head and mesosoma, but considerable variation in the amount of metasomal plumosity. Variation on the metasoma shows strong phylogenetic signal at subgeneric and smaller group levels, making it a useful trait for species delimitation research, and plumosity has increased from early Bombus ancestors. The distribution of these setal types suggests these setae may serve several functions, including pollen-collecting and thermoregulatory roles, and probable mechanosensory functions. This study further examines how and when setae of the pile develop, evidence for mechanosensory function, and the timing of pigmentation as a foundation for future genetic and developmental research in these bees.

【 授权许可】

CC BY