Nesting behavior of stingless bees

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Abstract

Native bees, besides excellent producers of honey, lend a great legacy to humanity through their ability to pollinate plants and the consequent preservation of ecosystems. In this interspecific relation, bees are benefited by plant species by the provision of food (nectar and pollen), besides using their branches and trunks for lodging. However, the anthropogenic action has jeopardized the survival of stingless bees, causing irreversible environmental damage in the preservation of natural resources. This study aimed to identify the nesting habits of native bees under natural conditions. Random trails in the Curimataú micro-region of Paraíba allowed identifying nesting sites of indigenous species in their natural habitat. Sixty honeycomb nests were identified in 12 different plant species, being Commiphora leptophloeos the most preferred host (46.66%), with 55% of the entrance holes pointed to magnetic orientations between the Northeast and Northwest; a greater choice by host trees (85%); preference for nesting in host plants with a circumference of 0.98 m in diameter, entrance hole of nests of 7.77 mm in diameter, and height from the ground of 1.52 m. The obtained data showed little variety of stingless bee species in the Curimataú region of Paraíba, especially Melipona subnitida. The species Melipona asilvae, Melipona scutellaris, Partamona seridoenses, and Plebeia sp. should receive special attention not to become extinct in this region.
Keywords: Curimataú. Natural habitat. Nesting. Preference. Stingless bees.

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Author Biographies

Carlos Roberto da Costa Macedo, Universidade Federal da Paraiba

Tenho graduação em Zootecnia e Licenciatura em Ciências Agrárias, mestrando em Ciências Agrárias (Agroecologia)

Italo de Souza Aquino, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - CCHSA - Departamento de Ciência Animal

Italo de souza Aquino é Engenheiro Agrônomo, formado pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba em 1984, posuidor os títulos de Master of Science e Ph.D. em Entomologia pela Universidade do Estado de Oklahoma (Estados Unidos) em 1990 e 1997, respectivamentre. Professor titular da Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

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Published

2020-08-06

How to Cite

MACEDO, C. R. da C.; AQUINO, I. de S.; BORGES, P. de F.; BARBOSA, A. daSilva; MEDEIROS, G. R. de. Nesting behavior of stingless bees. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, Goiânia, v. 21, 2020. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/58736. Acesso em: 17 jul. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 21 (2020): Continuous publication

Section

ZOOTECNIA

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