Plants visited by Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in an area of caatinga in Itatim, Bahia State, Brazil

Abstract

Plants visited by Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were studied in an area of caatinga (Itatim, Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil). A total of 588 foraging bees were collected while visiting flowers of 33 plant species. Sterculiaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Mimosaceae, and Rhamnaceae were the most frequently visited plant families. Apis mellifera displayed a wide trophic niche (2.71), although only a few plant species were important as pollen and nectar sources. About 80% of the individuals were collected on just ten plant species. Melochia tomentosa and Erythroxylon catingae were the species most frequently visited. The observed similarity between the species visited by A. mellifera at the Itatim site and another area of caatinga 30 km away was low (0.17). In each area different plant species were more frequently visited. These differences may be the result of floristic differences between the two sites, or to the amounts of floral resources available in each area.