[Animals] Ecuador's first “androgynous bee” discovered | INTERVIEW

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How likely are you to meet a bee with male and female characteristics? The answer is simple: practically impossible, also considering the difficulties that an expert in these insects would have to face to detect the difference.

However, researchers from the National Institute of Biodiversity of Ecuador (INABIO) and the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA, Manaus, Brazil) reported the first case of gynandromorphism - when an organism contains both male and female characteristics - in the bee of the orchids (Eulaema meriana), found in the province of Los Ríos, in the Costa region of Ecuador.

“What we found is a fortuitous event among millions. Of the nearly 20,000 known species of bees, only one or two cases have been found in 150 species. We are talking about a probability of 0.7% ”, comments entomologist Alex Pazmiño-Palomino, technician and head of INABIO's entomology collection.

Pazmiño-Palomino is one of the authors of the scientific article where the particular finding and all the characteristics of the so-called "androgynous bee" are described. Mongabay Latam spoke with the scientist not only about this case but also about the situation of bees in Ecuador and the enormous challenges faced by biologists who decide to dedicate themselves to the study of insects.

Researcher Alex Pazmiño-Palomino examining the androgynous bee discovered in Ecuador. Photo: Private archive.
Researcher Alex Pazmiño-Palomino examining the androgynous bee discovered in Ecuador. Photo: Private archive.
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How common are androgynous bee cases?

Alex Pazmiño-Palomino (A.P.P.): It's tremendously rare. In Apis mellifera is where more cases have been reported because it is the most common and domesticated bee. In wild bees it is very difficult to find these situations. For example, on the island of Barro Colorado, in Panama, the Smithsonian Institute has been working with a species of bee for about 20 years to study its social behavior and there they have only found two cases.

Why does gynandromorphism occur in bees?

A.P.P .: The exact reason is not known but the main hypothesis is that, in fertilization, the eggs can be fertilized by several sperm with different chromosomal load and both sexes develop in the same individual. In the bee that we identify, the differences between females and males are quite visible.

Does this genetic characteristic occur in other insects?

A.P.P .: Yes, it has been found in butterflies and not only in insects, cases have even been detected in crustaceans and birds.

Is this the first case of gynandromorphism in this species of bee?

A.P.P .: This bee (Eulaema meriana) has a wide distribution in Central and South America, the only case that has been found so far is that of Ecuador. The species belongs to the group of orchid bees, in other species of this group seven more cases have been found.

 

Link: https://elcomercio.pe/tecnologia/ecologia/descubren-la-primera-abeja-androgina-de-ecuador-entrevista-noticia/