Diet of Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in a Semiarid Area Cultivated with Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims)

Abstract

The loss and fragmentation of native vegetation harm pollinators and reduce crop productivity. The passion fruit crop is an excellent model for investigating this issue, as its pollinators are especially sensitive to deforestation. This study aimed to investigate food sources used by Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier in the surroundings of passion fruit orchards. Samples of larval provisions within trap nests and pollen in scopae were collected from August 2019 to March 2020 and were subjected to acetolysis. Additionally, adults were collected while foraging in vegetation surrounding orchards. Twenty-nine pollen types were found in the larval provisions. Mimosa arenosa (TRF = 54.96%) and Anadenanthera colubrina had the highest relative frequencies (TRF). Passiflora edulis pollen type was found in all samples but had low frequency. The trophic niche width (H’) based on larval provisions was 1.34, and H’ based on pollen of the scopae was 1.79. The carpenter bee X. grisescens exploited a diverse set of plants around the orchards but concentrated foraging on a limited number of species, which were replaced over time, indicating generalist foraging behavior and flexibility in selecting sources of floral resources. Our study reinforces the need to conserve native vegetation remnants to maintain carpenter bee populations, which can contribute to increased crop productivity and improved fruit quality.