Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism among populations of Meliponaquadrifasciata quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Apidae: Meliponini) from southern Brazil

Abstract

The geographical distribution of the Brazilian endemic stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata Lepeletier ranges from Rio Grande do Sul to Minas Gerais states. The objective of the present study was to verify mtDNA polymorphisms among samples of M. q. quadrifasciata collected in southern Brazil. Twenty nine colonies from three localities (Blumenau and Mafra/SC and Prudentopolis/PR) were sampled. Seven mtDNA regions were amplified and further digested with 15 restriction enzymes (PCR-RFLP). Five composite haplotypes were identified, with two unique to samples from Prudentopolis and the remaining three to samples from Mafra and/or Blumenau.