ULTRASTRUCTURAL EVIDENCES OF THE OCCURRENCE OF DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION OF ORGANIC SOLUTES IN BEES ILEUM (MELIPONA-QUADRIFASCIATA-ANTHIDIOIDES - HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE)

The ultrastructural aspects of the ileum of Melipona quadrifasciata an thidioides, a stingless bee whose workers obtain their protein require ments from pollen, present morphological evidences of digestion and ab sorption. These evidences are represented by special relationships bet ween food particles and the bacterial nora present and between their a ssemblage and the ileum wall, mainly in the ileum three anterior fourt hs. The apical features of the epithelium also are indicative of organ ic material absorption.