Competition and Nest Spacing in a Tropical Stingless Bee Community

Hubbell, Stephen P.; Johnson, Leslie K.

doi:10.2307/1936917

Cited by 145 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Tree species for nesting In accordance with the findings of Hubbell & Johnson (1977) and Roubik (1989), many stingless bees are opportunists in their use of tree cavities for nesting. This study shows that stingless bees nests can be found in different tree species, however, more than 75.0% of nests were found in two tree species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Espécies arbóreas utilizadas para nidificação por abelhas sem ferrão na caatinga (Seridó, PB; João Câmara, RN)

et al. 2004

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In Rio Grande do Norte, a caatinga region of North-eastern Brazil, the nesting opportunities that trees offer to stingless bees (Meliponinae) were studied. Samples consisted mostly of tree trunks, which were kept by Meliponinae beekeepers. Nearly 13 per cent of observed nests were in living trees in the field. Seven species of stingless bees, totalling 227 nests, were encountered in 12 tree species. More than 75.0% of stingless bees were found in two tree species being Caesalpinia pyramidalis (Caesalpiniaceae, 41.9%) and Commiphora leptophloeos (Burseraceae, 33.9%). Furthermore, all bee species nidify in C. pyramidalis. A great part of the nests in trunks were of Melipona subnitida, (N = 130) of which 50.0% was found in C. leptophloeos and 22.3% in C. pyramidalis. M. asilvai was predominantly found in C. pyramidalis (92.3%, N = 39). Besides this survey was mainly directed to bee species with beekeping importance, data shows the huge relevance of these two plant species for nesting by stingless bees in the caatinga.Key words: Stingless Bees, Nesting, Brazilian caatinga, Caesalpinia pyramidalis, Commiphora leptophloeos. ResumoForam feitas observações na caatinga, particularmente na região do Seridó (São José do Sabugi, PB) e em João Câmara, RN, com o objetivo de obter dados sobre as espécies vegetais utilizadas pelas espécies de abelhas sem ferrão (Meliponinae) para a construção de seus ninhos. As amostragens foram realizadas principalmente em ninhos transportados em seus troncos originais por meliponicultores da região. Cerca de 13% dos ninhos foram observados em árvores vivas no campo. Foram amostrados 227 ninhos, pertencentes a sete espécies de meliponíneos, nidificando em 12 espécies vegetais. Mais de 75% dos ninhos de meliponíneos foram observados nos ocos existentes em duas espécies de árvores: Caesalpinia pyramidalis (Caesalpiniaceae, 41,9% dos ninhos) e Commiphora leptophloeos (Burseraceae, 33,9%). Além disso, as cavidades dos troncos de Caesalpinia pyramidalis foram utilizadas pelas sete espécies de abelhas sem ferrão. A maior parte dos ninhos (N=130) foi de Melipona subnitida, dos quais 50,0% foram observados em Commiphora leptophloeos e 22,3% em Caesalpinia pyramidalis. Por outro lado, 92,3% (N=39) dos ninhos de Melipona asilvai foram observados em Caesalpinia pyramidalis. Desse modo, apesar de uma amostragem direcionada principalmente às espécies de interesse apícola, os dados destacam a enorme importância destas duas espécies de árvores na nidificação dos meliponíneos da caatinga. Palavras

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Espécies arbóreas utilizadas para nidificação por abelhas sem ferrão na caatinga (Seridó, PB; João Câmara, RN)

et al. 2004

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“…Because the frequency of Meliponini nests inside the forest is usually low (Michener 1946;Hubbell & Johnson 1977;Oliveira et al 1995), we hypothesize that some nests may be just as isolated from the others in the same sampling area as from others located in different sampling areas. In this way, the succession of massive and rapid flowering events at the various locations where the bees are present would explain the existence of pots of distinct nests being grouped in one set and pots from the same nests not being grouped (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pollen storages in nests of bees of the genera Partamona, Scaura and Trigona (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Rech¹,

Absy²

2011

Rev. Bras. entomol.

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ABSTRACT. Pollen storages in nests of bees of the genera Partamona, Scaura and Trigona (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Bees and angiosperms established a mutualistic relationship along the evolutionary time. The aim of this study is to contribute for the understanding of this relation analyzing pollen stored by stingless bees colonies distributed along the Rio Negro. Fourteen species of Meliponini from the genera Partamona, Scaura, and Trigona were studied with regard to the content of pollen pots. The pollen material was removed from the pollen pots, homogenized, and prepared according to the usual acetolysis technique. The overlap of the trophic niche and the grouping of species by similarity of niches was calculated. The identification revealed 78 pollen types belonging to 36 families, being 37 types attractive and 16 considered as promoters of a temporary specialization event. With the results, it was possible to indicate a list of important plants for meliponiculture in the Amazon.KEYWORDS. Pollination, pollinic resource, stingless bee RESUMO. Pólen estocado nos ninhos de abelhas dos gêneros Partamona, Scaura e Trigona (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Abelhas e plantas estabeleceram ao longo do tempo evolutivo uma relação mutualística. Buscando contribuir para o entendimento dessa relação, foi analisado o pólen estocado por colônias de abelhas-sem-ferrão distribuídas ao longo do rio Negro. Foram estudados potes de pólen de 14 espécies de Meliponini dos gêneros Partamona, Scaura e Trigona. O material polínico foi retirado dos potes de pólen, homogeneizado e preparado segundo técnica usual de acetólise. Foram calculados a sobreposição de nicho trófico e o agrupamento das espécies pela similaridade de nichos. Foi identificado o total de 78 tipos polínicos, pertencentes a 36 famílias, sendo 37 destes, considerados atrativos, enquanto 16 foram promotores de eventos de especialização temporária. Com os resultados obtidos foi possível indicar uma lista de plantas de importância para a meliponicultura na Amazônia.PALAVRAS-CHAVE. Abelhas-sem-ferrão, polinização, recurso polínico.

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“…O comportamento agressivo e monopolista de espécies de Trigona verifi cado neste trabalho, já era conhecido (Johnson & Hubbell 1974, Hubbell & Johnson 1977. Operárias de T. spinipes forrageiam em "bando", várias operárias monopolizando as fl ores (Almeida & Laroca 1988, Sazima & Sazima 1989, apresentam vôo lento e mimetizam vespas e abelhas agressivas que possuem acúleos desenvolvidos, como espécies de Tetrapedia e Paratetrapedia (Kerr 1951).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Polinização entomófila de abobrinha, Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbitaceae)

Serra¹,

Campos²

2010

Neotrop. entomol.

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-The objectives of this work were to determine the squash entomofauna in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais state, to study their behavior on fl owers and their importance for pollination, verifying the role of each pollinator. The most common species were Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Trigona hyalinata (Lepeletier), Apis mellifera (L.) and Melipona quadrifasciata (Lepeletier). The visitation behavior of A. mellifera, M. quadrifasciata, and Bombus morio (Swederus) were similar. They visited fl owers for nectar collection, positioning themselves vertically between the corolla and the sexual structures of the fl owers, with the back directed toward the fl oral axis, which permitted the removal of pollen from the anthers of fl owers with stamens and its deposition on the stigma of fl owers with pistils, being considered therefore effective pollinators. Trigona spinipes and T. hyalinata foraged in groups, preventing other species from landing on the fl owers which they occupied. Due to their small body size and only infrequent contact with the sexual structures of the fl owers, these species are considered occasional pollinators. The number of fruits produced differed between freely visited fl owers, those prevented from receiving visits and those visited only a single time by M. quadrifasciata, B. morio, A. mellifera, T. hyalinata or T. spinipes. Flowers prevented from receiving visits or visited only once by T. spinipes did not produce fruits. The remaining pollination systems led to fruitifi cation, with open pollination or a single visit from either M. quadrifasciata or B. morio leading to most fruit production.

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Competition and Nest Spacing in a Tropical Stingless Bee Community

Cited by 145 publications

References 12 publications

Espécies arbóreas utilizadas para nidificação por abelhas sem ferrão na caatinga (Seridó, PB; João Câmara, RN)

Espécies arbóreas utilizadas para nidificação por abelhas sem ferrão na caatinga (Seridó, PB; João Câmara, RN)

Pollen storages in nests of bees of the genera Partamona, Scaura and Trigona (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Polinização entomófila de abobrinha, Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbitaceae)

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