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Social encapsulation of beetle parasites by Cape honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.)

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Abstract.

Worker honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis) encapsulate the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), a nest parasite, in propolis (tree resin collected by the bees). The encapsulation process lasts 1–4 days and the bees have a sophisticated guarding strategy for limiting the escape of beetles during encapsulation. Some encapsulated beetles died (4.9%) and a few escaped (1.6%). Encapsulation has probably evolved because the small hive beetle cannot easily be killed by the bees due to its hard exoskeleton and defensive behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Zoologie/Molekulare Ökologie, Kröllwitzerstrasse 44, 06099 Halle/Saale, Germany, , , , ,

    P. Neumann

  2. Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa, , , , ,

    C. Pirk,  H. Hepburn &  A. Solbrig

  3. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield University, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK, , , , ,

    F. Ratnieks

  4. USDA, Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center, Weslaco, TX 78596, USA, , , , ,

    P. Elzen &  J. Baxter

Authors
  1. P. Neumann
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  2. C. Pirk
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  3. H. Hepburn
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  4. A. Solbrig
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  5. F. Ratnieks
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  6. P. Elzen
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  7. J. Baxter
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Additional information

Accepted in revised form: 17 March 2001

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Neumann, .P., Pirk, .C., Hepburn, .H. et al. Social encapsulation of beetle parasites by Cape honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.). Naturwissenschaften 88, 214–216 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140100224

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140100224

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