Author(s): RIBEIRO, M. de F.; SANTOS, K. P.; MARIANO, A. M. C.

Summary: Plebeia aff. flavocincta is a small stingless bee known as ?mosquito? in Northeast Brazil. According to previous surveys, it occurs in rural areas (being abundant in the past, but quite scarce nowadays) and in urban areas, as in Petrolina (Pernambuco). In December 2017 and January 2018, two natural nests of this species located in Prosophis juliflora trees at a central square of the town were investigated. Worker bees carrying pollen were collected when arriving at nest entrance, and their pollen loads were obtained for pollen analysis (acetolysis). Temperature and relative humidity were measured. Plants and their pollen grains were collected in a range of 1.000m, for comparison and identification of the pollen collected by the bees. In approximately 12h of work, 388 pollen loads were obtained. The results showed that temperature varied from 25-31.1oC and the relative humidity from 26-56%. The pollen analysis showed that the bees visited 22 plant species distributed in 11 botanical families (mostly Fabaceae). They visited mainly Senna spectabilis (57% of the samples), a native species. Other plants with less than 10% of representation were: Azadirachta indica (referred to be toxic for Apis mellifera larvae), Croton sp., Momordica charantia and a species not identified of Verbenaceae.

Publication year: 2018

Types of publication: Abstract in annals or event proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Semi-arid Region

Keywords: Abelha, Abelha sem ferrão, Bee pollen, Biologia floral, Plebeia aff flavocincta, Polinização, Prosophis juliflora