Pollen and nectar foraging by Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in natural habitat
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v61i4.441-448Keywords:
Apiformes, stingless bees, external activity, pollen, foraging behaviorAbstract
This study shows the influence of climatic factors and the nectar and pollen collection by Melipona quadrifasciata in a natural habitat. Five colonies were studied in Parque das Neblinas, Mogi das Cruzes district (23º44’52”S/46º09’46”W), from October 2009 to September 2010. The flight activity of the bees was observed monthly, the temperature and relative humidity were registered using dataloggers and pollen loads were analyzed. The peaks of pollen collection occurred between 8:30-9:50am, while nectar is gathering along the day. The relation of resources sampling and environmental temperature is best described with a polynomial function, while in relation to relative humidity the curves of foraging activity is slightly asymmetric to left. A total of 24 pollen types were identified and the most frequents were Eucalyptus, Melastomataceae, Solanaceae and Myrcia. The tolerance to the environmental conditions is discussed, as well as the plants explored for pollen sources.Downloads
References
Antonini, Y., Costa, R.G. & Martins, R.P. (2006a). Floral preferences of a Neotropical stingless bee, Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Apidae: Meliponina) in an urban Forest fragment. Braz. J. Biol., 66: 463-471. doi: 10.1590/ S1519-69842006000300012.
Antonini, Y., Soares, S.M. & Martins, R.P. (2006b). Pollen and nectar harvesting by the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Apidae: Meliponini) in an urban forest fragment in Southeastern Brazil. Stud. Neotrop. Fauna E. 41: 209-215. doi: 10.1080/01650520600683088#.VHPJl9LF-No.
Bartelli, B.F., Santos, A.O.R & Nogueira-Ferreira, F.H. (2014). Colony performance of Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera, Meliponina) in a Greenhouse of Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae). Sociobiology 61: 60-67.
Bartelli, B.F. & Nogueira-Ferreira, F.H. (2014). Pollination services provided by Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Meliponina) in greenhouses with Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae). Sociobiology 61:
Barth, O.M. (1989). O pólen no mel brasileiro. Editora Luxor: Rio de Janeiro, 151p.
Batalha-Filho, H., Melo, G.A.R, Waldschmidt, A.M., Campos, L.A.O. & Fernandes-Salomão, T.M. (2009). Geographic distribution and spatial differentiation in the color pattern of abdominal stripes of the Neotropical stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Zool., 26: 213-219. doi: 10.1590/S1984-46702009000200003.
Bispo dos Santos, S. A., Roselino, A. C., Hrncir, M. & Bego, L. R. (2009). Pollination of tomatoes by the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata and the honey bee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Genet. Mol. Res., 8: 751-757.
Bruijn, L.L.M. & Sommeijer, M.J. (1997). Colony foraging in different species of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponinae) and the regulation of individual nectar foraging. Insec. Soc., 44: 35-47. doi: 10.1007/s000400050028.
Camargo, J.M.F. & Pedro, S.R.M. (2008). Meliponini Lepeletier, 1836. In J.S. Moure, D. Urban & G.A.R. Melo (Orgs). Catalogue of Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in the Neotropical Region - online version, 2008. Available at http:// www.moure.cria.org.br/catalogue. Accessed Set/28/2014.
Contrera, F.A.L., Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. & Nieh, J.C. (2004). Temporal and climatological influences on flight activity in the stingless bee Trigona hyalinata (Apidae, Meliponini). Rev. Tecn. e Amb., 10: 35-43.
Corbet S.A., Fussell, M., Ake, R., Fraser, A., Gunson, C., Savage, A. & Smith, K. (1993). Temperature and the pollination activity of social bees. Ecol. Entom., 18: 17-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1993.tb01075.x
Cortopassi-Laurino, M., Velthuis, H.H.W. & Nogueira-Neto, P. (2007). Diversity of stingless bees from the Amazon forest in Xapuri (Acre), Brazil. Proc. Neth. Entomol. Soc. Meet., 18: 105-114.
Del Sarto, M.C.L., Peruquetti, R.C. & Campos, L.A.O. (2005). Evaluation of the neotropical stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) as pollinator of greenhouse tomatoes. J. Econ. Entomol., 98: 260-266. doi: 10.1603/0022-0493-98.2.260.
Ferreira-Junior, N.T., Blochtein, B. & Moraes, J.F. (2010). Seasonal flight and resource collection patterns of colonies of the stingless bee Melipona bicolor schencki in an Araucaria forest area in southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Entomol., 54: 630- 636. doi: 10.1590/S0085-56262010000400015.
Fidalgo, A.O. & Kleinert, A.M.P. (2007). Foraging behavior of Melipona rufiventris Lepeletier (Apinae; Meliponini) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil. Braz. J. Biol., 67: 137-144. doi: 10.1590/ S1519-69842007000100018.
Fidalgo, A.O. & Kleinert, A.M.P. (2010). Floral preferences and climate influence in nectar and pollen foraging by Melipona rufiventris Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Neotrop. Entomol., 39: 879-884. doi:10.1590/S1519-566X2010000600005.
Figueiredo-Mecca. G., Bego, L.R. & Nascimento, F.S. (2013). Foraging behavior of Scaptotrigona depilis (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) and its relationship with temporal and abiotic factors. Sociobiology, 60: 277-282. doi: 10.13102/ sociobiology.v60i3.277-282.
Gobatto, A.R. & Knoll, F.R.N. (2013). Influence of seasonal changes in daily activity and annual life cycle of Geotrigona mombuca (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in a Cerrado habitat, São Paulo, Brazil. Iheringia, Sér. Zool., 103: 367-373. doi: 10.1590/S0073-47212013000400006.
Gouw, M.S. & Gimenes, M. (2013). Differences of the daily flight activity rhythm in two Neotropical stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Sociobiology, 60: 183-189. doi: 10.13102/sociobiology.v60i2.183-189.
Guibu, L. & Imperatriz Fonseca, V.L. (1984). Atividade externa de Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Ciên. e Cult., 36(7): 623.
Heinrich, B. & Esch, H. (1994). Thermoregulation in Bees. Amer. Sci., 82: 164-170.
Hilário, S.D., Imperatriz Fonseca, V.L. and Kleinert & A.M.P. (2000). Flight activity and colony strength in the stingless bee Melipona bicolor bicolor (Apidae, Meliponinae). Rev. Bras. Biol., 60: 299-306. doi: 10.1590/S0034-71082000000200014.
Hilário, S.D., Gimenes, M. & Imperatriz Fonseca, V.L. (2003). The influence of colony size in diel rhythms on flight activity of Melipona bicolor Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini). In G.A.R. Melo & I. Alves dos Santos (Eds.), Apoidea Neotropica: Homenagem aos 90 anos de Jesus Santiago Moure (pp. 191-197). Criciúma: UNESC.
Hilário, S.D. & Imperatriz Fonseca , V.L. (2009). Pollen foraging in colonies of Melipona bicolor (Apidae, Meliponini): effects of season, colony size and queen number. Genet. Mol. Res., 8: 664-671.
Hilário, S.D. & Imperatriz Fonseca , V.L. (2012). Can climate shape flight activity patterns of Plebeia remota (Hymenoptera, Apidae)? Iheringia, Sér. Zool., 102: 269-276. doi: 10.1590/ S0073-47212012000300004.
Hilgert-Moreira, S.B., Fernandes, M.Z., Marchett, C.A. & Blochtein, B. (2014). Do different landscapes influence the response of native and non-native bee species in the Eucalyptus pollen foraging, in southern Brazil? Forest Ecol. Manag., 313: 153-160. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.10.049.
Hutchinson, G.E. (1957). Concluding remarks. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol., 22: 415-427.
Kleinert-Giovannini, A. & Imperatriz Fonseca, V.L. (1986). Flight activity and responses to climatic conditions of two subspecies of Melipona marginata Lepeletier (Apidae, Meliponinae). J. Apic. Res, 25: 3-8.
Luz, C.F.P., Fernandes-Salomão, T.M., Lage, L.G.A., Resende, H.C., Tavares, M.G. & Campos. L.A.O. (2011). Pollen sources for Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo: an endangered Brazilian stingless bee. Psyche, 2011, Article ID 107303. doi: 10.1155/2011/107303.
Maurizio, A. & Louveaux, J. (1965). Pollens de plantes mellifères d’Europe. Un. Des. Group. Apic. Franç., Paris.
Michener, C.D. (1974). The Social Behavior of the Bees: A Comparative Study, Cambridge, Massachussets: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 404p.
Mouga, D.M.D.S. (1984). Coleta de pólen e néctar em Paratrigona subnuda e Atividade externa de Paratrigona subnuda. Cienc. Cult., 36: 696-697.
Nascimento, A.S., Pereira, L.L., Carvalho, C.A.L., Machado, C.S., Oda-Souza, M. & Souza, B.A. (2012). Flight activity of the eusocial bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini). Magistra, 24: 112-118.
Nates-Parra, G. & Rodríguez, A. (2011). Forrajeo en colonias de Melipona eburnea (Hymenoptera: Apidae) en el piedemonte llanero (Meta, Colombia). Rev. Colomb. Entomol., 37: 121-127.
Pick, R.A. & Blochtein, B. (2002). Atividades de coleta e origem floral do pólen armazenado em colônias de Plebeia saiqui (Holmberg) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae) no sul do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Zool., 19: 289-300. doi: 10.1590/ S0101-81752002000100025.
Pierrot, L.M & Schlindwein, C. (2003). Variation in daily flighty and foraging patterns in colonies of uruçu-Melipona scutellaris Latreille (Apide, Meliponini). Rev. Bras. Zool., 20: 565-571. doi: 10.1590/S0101-81752003000400001.
Ramalho, M., Kleinert-Giovannini, A. & Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. (1989). Utilization of floral resources by species of Melipona (Apidae, Meliponinae): floral preferences. Apidologie, 20: 185-195. doi: 10.1051/apido:19890301.
Rodrigues, M., Santana, W.C., Freitas, G.S. & Soares, A.E.E. (2007). Flight activity of Tetragona clavipes (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at the São Paulo University Campus in Ribeirão Preto. Biosc. J., 23: 118-124.
Roubik, D.W. (1989). Ecology and natural history of tropical bees. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 514p.
Roubik, D.W. & Moreno, J.E.P. (1991). Pollen and spores of Barro Colorado Island. St Louis: Miss. Botan. Gard. Press, Monogr. Syst. Bot., 36: 268.
Serra, B.D.V, Luz, C.F.P. & Campos, L.A.O. (2012). The use of polliniferous resources by Melipona capixaba, an endangered stingless bee species. J. Insect Sci., 12(148): 1-14. doi: 10.1673/031.012.14801.
Silva, M.D., Ramalho, M. & Rosa, J. (2011). Por que Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera, Apidae) forrageia sob alta umidade relativa do ar? Iheringia, Sér. Zool., 101: 131- 137. doi: 10.1590/S0073-47212011000100019.
Souza, B.A., Carvalho, C.A.L. & Alves, R.M.O. (2006). Flight activity of Melipona asilvai Moure (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Braz. J. Biol., 66: 731-737. doi: 10.1590/S1519- 69842006000400017.
Tóth, E., Queller, D.C., Dollin, A. & Strassman, J.E. (2004). Conflict over male parentage in stingless bees. Insect. Soc., 51: 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00040-003-0707-z.
Wilms, W. & Wiechers, B. (1997). Floral resource partitioning between native Melipona bees and the introduced Africanized honeybee in the Brazilian Atlantic rain Forest. Apidologie, 28: 339-355.
Zar, J.H. (1999). Biostatistical Analysis. Fourth ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 664p.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Sociobiology is a diamond open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
eISSN 2447-8067
