Characterization of preimaginal developmental stages in Africanized honey bee workers (Apis mellifera L)

Abstract - The stages of preimaginal development of the Africanized worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L) were characterized. Body weight and head diameter were used as characters with which to differentiate among the first 4 instars, and additional traits such as apolysis, defecation and tibio-tarsal length of the hind legs were used to characterize the subdivision of the 5th and last instar. Pupal stages were determined on the basis of eye and thorax pigmentation. The duration of each stage was also determined from these characteristics. The post-embryonic development period of Africanized bees is ≈ 24 h shorter than that in Apis mellifera carnica, and 18 and 24 h longer than in African bees.