Searching for a Manageable Pollinator for Acerola Orchards: The Solitary Oil-Collecting Bee <I>Centris analis</I> (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini)

Abstract

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC; Malpighiaceae) is an important fruit crop in Brazil. Among its pollinators, Centris (Heterocentris) analis (F.) stands out due to its abundance at flowers and prompt acceptance of trap-nests. For the first time, we propose the commercial use of Centris bees as orchard pollinators. To develop protocols for rearing and management of these bees, we analyzed trap-nest acceptance, brood-cell construction, and larval diet in Acerola orchards. Although Centris species, in general, use numerous pollen host plants, females of C. analis showed remarkable flower fidelity to Acerola for pollen supply when nesting in the orchard. Such fidelity was previously expected only for floral oil collection. The ease of acceptance of trap-nests by females of C. analis, their prolonged yearly activity period, multivoltine life history, and high pollinator efficiency characterize C. analis as an excellent potentially manageable pollinator in Acerola orchards.

Introducing nests of the oil-collecting bee Centris analis (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) for pollination of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) increases yield

“…This result could be expected because acerola flowers do not produce nectar and are unattractive to most flower visitors due to overall low pollen production (Roubik 1992;Freitas et al 1999). Centridini bees, however, need oil-producing flowers to feed their offspring and cannot establish a population where these flowers are not present (Oliveira and Schlindwein 2009).…”

“…Trap nests displaced around the farm were quickly colonized by C. analis and nest numbers increased over 62 % in only 3 months after being introduced to a acerola plantation. Considering the average of 3.8 brood cell/nest built by C. analis in solid blocks found by Oliveira and Schlindwein (2009), 342 nests mean, potentially, c.a. 3,000 new bees.…”

“…Rico, and USA (Oliveira and Schlindwein 2009). Acerola flowers bear six to 10 large sessile oilproducing glands (epithelial elaiophores) in the calyx that attract Centridini bees to visit them, making the oil-collecting bees their main pollinators (Freitas et al 1999;Vilhena et al 2012).…”

“…Acerola flowers bear six to 10 large sessile oilproducing glands (epithelial elaiophores) in the calyx that attract Centridini bees to visit them, making the oil-collecting bees their main pollinators (Freitas et al 1999;Vilhena et al 2012). Recently, Oliveira and Schlindwein (2009) have installed trap nests in an acerola orchard to be colonized by females of Centris (Heterocentris) analis Fabricius and proposed this bee species as a potentially manageable pollinator for M. emarginata because it accepts trap nests easily, presents prolonged yearly activity period and multivoltine life history. Also, Guedes et al (2011) demonstrated that acerola orchards may face a strong pollination deficit in periods of the year when the native populations of Centris bees decrease.…”

Floral-oil-producing Plantaginaceae species: geographical distribution, pollinator rewards and interactions with oil-collecting bees

“…Centris species collect floral oils in Calceolariaceae, Iridaceae, Krameriaceae, Malpighiaceae, Orchidaceae, Plantaginaceae and Solanaceae (Vogel 1974, Simpson et al 1977, Cocucci 1991, Simpson et al 1990, Vogel & Machado 1991, Rasmussen 1999. Some species can exploit remarkably different flowers, for example Centris (Heterocentris) analis, collects floral oils in Malpighiaceae (Oliveira & Schlindwein 2009) and in the flowers of Angelonia (Plantaginaceae) (Martins et al 2013). Females of Centris (Paracentris) and C. (Wagenknechtia) are more strongly associated with Plantaginaceae flowers and have some modifications in their oil-collecting apparatuses (Simpson et al 1990).…”