MELIPONINI, Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1836

Rozen, Jerome G., Jr., Quezada-Euán, J. Javier G., Roubik, David W. & Smith, Corey Shepard, 2019, Immature Stages of Selected Meliponine Bees (Apoidea: Apidae), American Museum Novitates 2019 (3924) : -

EGGS OF MELIPONINI

The known eggs of this tribe often appear to be nearly symmetrical around their long axis. However, “lateral views” in many cases seem to present a somewhat different image from that of a dorsal or ventral view. Such apparent inconsistencies may be real or may result from postmortem manipulation of preserved specimens, for example by forceps. In the following presentation, both symmetrical as well as asymmetrical views are shown without judgment as to which is correct.

All eggs described and illustrated here are considered to be reproductive eggs and not trophic eggs because of the well-developed reticulate pattern on their chorions (Pereira et al., 2006).