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Acacia mangium (Willd., 1806) (Fabales: Fabaceae) is a fast growing, rustic, pioneer species, with potential to fix nitrogen, and for programs to recover degraded areas. The objective was to evaluate the distribution and the functional diversity of interactions and the K-dominance of arthropod groups on A. mangium saplings. The number of individuals of eleven species of phytophagous insects, three bee species, and fourteen natural enemy species were highest on the adaxial leaf surface of this plant. Abundance, diversity and species richness of phytophagous insects and natural enemies, and abundance and species richness of pollinators were highest on the adaxial A. mangium leaf surface. The distribution of five species of sap-sucking hemipterans and six of protocooperating ants (Hymenoptera), with positive interaction between these groups, and three bee species (Hymenoptera) were aggregated on leaves of A. mangium saplings. Aethalion reticulatum (L.) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) and Bemisia sp. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae); Brachymyrmex sp. and Camponotus sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); and Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most dominant phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators, respectively, on A. mangium leaves. Knowledge of preferred leaf surfaces could help integrated pest management programs. Resumo Acacia mangium (Willd., 1806) (Fabales: Fabaceae) é uma planta pioneira com rápido crescimento, rusticidade, potencial nitrificador e importante em programas de recuperação de áreas degradadas. O objetivo foi avaliar a distribuição e a diversidade funcional das interações e a dominância-K de grupos de artrópodes em árvores jovens de A. mangium. Os números de indivíduos de onze espécies de insetos fitófagos, três de abelhas e quatorze de inimigos naturais foram maiores na superfície adaxial de folhas dessa planta. A abundância, diversidade e riqueza de espécies de insetos fitófagos e inimigos naturais, e a abundância e riqueza de espécies de polinizadores foram maiores na face adaxial de folhas de A. mangium. A distribuição de cinco espécies de hemípteros sugadores de seiva e seis de formigas protocooperantes (Hymenoptera), com interação positiva entre esses grupos, e três de abelhas (Hymenoptera) foi agregada em folhas de plantas jovens de A. mangium. Aethalion reticulatum (L.) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) e Bemisia sp. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae); Brachymyrmex sp. e Camponotus sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); e Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae) foram os insetos fitófagos, inimigos naturais e polinizadores mais dominantes, respectivamente, em folhas de A. mangium. A definição da superfície foliar preferida pode auxiliar programas de manejo integrado de pragas.

Trigona spinipes is a generalist species of stingless bee that is dominant in many pollination networks and has a wide distribution in the tropics and subtropics of the Neotropics. This eusocial sp...

Trigona spinipes Fabricius is a stingless bee with wide geographical distribution. Although being sometimes considered an agricultural pest, in fact, it has great pollinating potential, and therefore economic interest. Conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques have been little used to verify genetic diversity in this species, despite its potential to reveal information about the reorganization of the genome having been demonstrated in other species. Conventional cytogenetic techniques, fluorochrome staining, and fluorescent in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA, telomeric, and microsatellite probes (GA)15 were used in this study to characterize and compare T. spinipes from different locations. The karyotypes showed a conserved chromosome number 2n = 34; however, geographic variations were verified in the different features and cytogenetic techniques analyzed, such as karyotype formulas, fluorocrome staining, and FISH. Although the 18S rDNA probe revealed the same number of markings in five rDNA clusters, the chromosomal pairs containing these markers varied between studied locations. The probe for microsatellite (GA)15 also showed polymorphisms within this species. The results reveal that T. spinipes has many intraspecific differences, revealing a higher chromosomal variation than expected.

Previous investigations showed that diverse varieties of melon may have different attractiveness for bees. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, frequency and behavior of flower visitors of some melon (Cucumis melo) cultivars (Amarelo, Pele de Sapo, Cantaloupe, Gália) in different conditions (conventional and organic farming, dry and rainy seasons, with and without mulching and introduction or not of honey bee hives) in the main production poles in the Brazilian Northeast (Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA, Pacajus-CE and Mossoro-RN). Observations and collections of flower visitors occurred from 5p.m. to 6p.m, in non-consecutive days. We recorded 12 species of insects, mostly bees. The most frequent was Apis mellifera (99.68%), but other species appeared sporadically (less than 0.5%): Xylocopa grisescens, Trigona spinipes, Plebeia sp., Melipona mandacaia, Frieseomelitta doedereleini, Halicitidae. Apis mellifera was present in all studied cultivars and sites. Xylocopa grisescens appeared in two poles, but not in Pacajus-CE, Amarelo cultivar. In addition, Trigona spinipes, although present in the three poles, was not recorded on Pele de Sapo. The Amarelo cultivar, under organic farming, without the use of mulching, and presence of honey bee hives, in the Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA pole, in the dry season, was the combination of factors showing the largest number of Apis mellifera as the main visitor of melon flowers. RESUMO Investigações anteriores mostraram que cultivares diversas de meloeiro podem apresentar diferente atratividade para abelhas. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição, frequência e comportamento de visitantes florais de algumas cultivares do meloeiro (Cucumis melo) (Amarelo, Pele de Sapo, Cantaloupe, Gália) em variadas situações (cultivo convencional e orgânico, época seca e chuvosa, com e sem mulching e introdução ou não de colmeias de abelhas melíferas) nos principais polos de produção do Nordeste brasileiro (Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA, Pacajus-CE e Mossoró-RN). As observações e coletas dos visitantes ocorreram das 5h00 às 18h00, em dias não consecutivos. Foram registradas 12 espécies de insetos, a maioria abelhas. Entre elas, a mais frequente foi Apis mellifera (99.68%), mas outras espécies apareceram esporadicamente (menos de 0,5%): Xylocopa grisescens, Trigona spinipes, Plebeia sp., Melipona mandacaia, Frieseomelitta doedereleini, Halicitidae. Apis mellifera esteve presente em todas as cultivares e locais estudados. Xylocopa grisescens apareceu em dois polos, mas não em Pacajus-CE, no tipo Amarelo. E Trigona spinipes, embora estivesse presente nos três poios, não foi registrada no Pele de Sapo. O tipo Amarelo, com cultivo orgânico, sem o uso de mulching, e presença de colmeias de abelhas melíferas, no polo Petrolina-PE/ Juazeiro-BA, na época seca, foi a combinação de fatores que apresentou maior número de Apis mellifera como principal polinizadora das flores do meloeiro.

Acacia mangium is a pioneer species with fast growth and frequently used in the recovery of degraded areas. The objectives were to evaluate insects and spiders, their ecological indices and interactions on A. mangium saplings in a tropical degraded area in recovering process. The experimental design was completely randomized with 24 replications, with treatments represented by the first and second years after A. mangium seedling planted. Numbers of leaves/branch, branches/sapling, and ground cover by A. mangium saplings, Hemiptera: Phenacoccus sp. and Pachycoris torridus; Hymenoptera: Tetragonisca angustula and Trigona spinipes, Brachymyrmex sp., Camponotus sp. and Cephalotes sp.; Blattodea: Nasutitermes sp. and Neuroptera: Chrysoperla sp.; abundance, species richness of pollinating insects, tending ants, and the abundance of Sternorrhyncha predators were greatest in the second year after planting. Numbers of Hemiptera: Aethalium reticulatum, Hymenoptera: Camponotus sp., Cephalotes sp., Polybia sp., T. angustula, T. spinipes, tending ants, pollinating insects, Sternorrhyncha predators and species richness of tending ants were highest on A. mangium saplings with greatest numbers of leaves or branches. The increase in the population of arthropods with ground cover by A. mangium saplings age increase indicates the positive impact by this plant on the recovery process of degraded areas. Resumo Acacia mangium é uma espécie pioneira, de rápido crescimento e utilizada na recuperação de áreas degradadas. Os objetivos foram avaliar insetos e aranhas, seus índices ecológicos e interações com plantas de A. mangium em área tropical degradada em processo de recuperação. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 24 repetições, com os tratamentos representados pelos primeiro e segundo anos após a plantio de A. mangium. Os números de folhas/galhos, galhos/plantas e cobertura do solo por plantas de A. mangium, de Hemiptera: Phenacoccus sp. e Pachycoris torridus; Hymenoptera: Tetragonisca angustula e Trigona spinipes, Brachymyrmex sp., Camponotus sp. e Cephalotes sp.; Blattodea: Nasutitermes sp. e Neuroptera: Chrysoperla sp.; a abundância, riqueza de espécies de insetos polinizadores, formigas cuidadoras e a abundância de predadores de Sternorrhyncha foram maiores no segundo ano após o plantio. Os números de Hemiptera: Aethalium reticulatum, Hymenoptera: Camponotus sp., Cephalotes sp., Polybia sp., T. angustula, T. spinipes, formigas cuidadoras, insetos polinizadores, predadores de Sternorrhyncha e a riqueza de espécies de formigas cuidadoras foram maiores em plantas de A. mangium com maior altura e número de folhas ou galhos. O aumento populacional de artrópodes e da cobertura do solo com o processo de envelhecimento das plantas de A. mangium indicam impacto positivo dessa planta na recuperação de áreas degradadas.

Myrciaria floribunda is a species native to the restinga areas of the Atlantic Forest that presents great phenotypic variation in fruits, great socioeconomic importance in regions of natural occurrence and high productive potential. The characterization of heterogeneous populations is crucial for plant selection and breeding programs, since it allows the distinction of superior individuals. The aim of this study was to characterize the reproductive structure of M. floribunda accessions, and to observe the influence of climate and environment on its reproductive process, through floral biology, floral morphoanatomy and reproductive phenology. Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes are the main floral visitors of cambuí. Stigma receptivity lasts up to 5 hours after flower opening and pollen viability was above 90%. Regarding the flower structure, the female sexual organ is monocarpic, the ovary is efferent, bilocular, with two ovules per locule, the inflorescence is fascicle-like and consists of small white flowers, actinomorph symmetry, heteroclamid and monoclines. Plants bloomed irregularly throughout the year, concentrating flowering in two periods of the year with the greatest peaks in March and August, while the greatest fruiting peaks were observed in April and September. Resumo A Myrciaria floribunda é uma espécie nativa das áreas de restinga da mata atlântica que apresenta grande variação fenotípica nos frutos, possui grande importância socioeconômica nas regiões de ocorrência natural e alto potencial produtivo. A caracterização de populações heterogêneas é determinante para um programa de seleção e de melhoramento de plantas, pois permite a distinção de indivíduos superiores. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a estrutura reprodutiva de acessos de M. floribunda e observar a influência das condições climáticas e do ambiente sobre o processo reprodutivo, por meio da biologia floral, da morfoanatomia floral e da fenologia reprodutiva. A Apis melífera e Trigona spinipes são os principais visitantes florais do cambuí. A receptividade do estigma tem duração de até 5 horas após a abertura da flor, e a viabilidade polínica esteve acima de 90%. Em relação à estrutura da flor, possui órgão sexual feminino monocárpico, ovário ínfero, bilocular, com dois óvulos por lóculo, apresenta inflorescência do tipo fascículo, constituída por pequenas flores de coloração branca, simetria actinomorfa, heteroclamídeas e monoclinas. As plantas floresceram de forma irregular praticamente o ano inteiro, concentrando a floração em duas épocas do ano com maiores picos em março e agosto, enquanto os maiores picos de frutificação foram observados em abril e setembro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lyophilization and drying in stove on phenolic compounds content and the biological activity of Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes pollens produced in Brazil. In general, the bee pollen produced by T. spinipes presented highest antioxidant activity in dried and fresh samples assessed either by test of plasma ferric reduction capacity (FRAP) and free radical scavenging assay (DPPH) methods. For A. mellifera bee pollen the antioxidant activity was higher on the fresh samples. Nevertheless, b-carotene bleaching assay (BCB) and linoleic acid content were higher in T. spinipes samples, mainly in the fresh ones. Higher antioxidant activity was owing to higher content in phenolic compounds. Lyophilization method was the best for phenolic compounds’ conservation for both species. The bee pollen of both species has a high amount of flavonoids: kaempferol-3-O-glucoside was the most abundant in A. mellifera while for T. spinipes the most prevalent was resorcylic acidþepicatechin. All extracts presented antibacterial activity against Saphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300)TM, (ESA 83138150), (ESA 32), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442)TM, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRC.4) and (MRC.10). The methods used for storage influenced the biological properties of bee pollen from both species. Regarding the content of phenolic compounds, differences were observed amongst the pollen types: for A. mellifera these were best preserved with lyophilization, while for T. spinipes the three storage methods were equivalent. The authors are grateful to the Coordenac¸~ao de Aperfeic¸oamento de Pessoal de N ıvel Superior – CAPES (88881.062167/2014-01 for M.L.M.E.). A. Pascoal would like to thank Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), Programa Operacional Potencial Humano (POPH), and European Union (EU) for his Postdoctoral grant SFRH/BPD/ 91380/2012. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The Trigona spinipes is a species of bee found throughout the Brazilian territory. This study aimed to evaluate the forage behavior of the species T. Spinipes to abiotic and biotic factors. The exp...

Strawberry cultivation under semi-hydroponic conditions has increased in the Southern region of Brazil since it facilitates management, besides avoiding weather adversities, pests and diseases. However, protected environment can hamper the access of pollinator insects, essential for crop productivity. This work aimed to know the entomofauna associated with strawberry cultivar Albion cultivated under semi-hydroponic conditions and to identify potential species of native pollinating bees. Insects were captured at different times of the day (9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.) in three commercial crops located in Bento Gonçalves and Farroupilha, Rio Grande do Sul. In each study area, three days of sampling were carried out during January 2017. The flowers were visited by 47 species of insects. Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was the most abundant, constant, dominant and frequent species. Twelve species of native bees were identified: Tetragonisca fiebrigi, Tetrapedia sp., Trigona spinipes, Schwarziana quadripunctata, Plebeia emerina, P. remota, Bombus pauloensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Dialictus sp.1, Dialictus sp.2, Augochloropsis sp.1, Augochloropsis sp.2, and Augochlora sp.1 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). All these species are potential pollinators of the crop. The native species T. fiebrigi, P. emerina and P. remota present potential for directed pollination of the strawberry under protected cultivation due to abundance and ease of management. RESUMO O cultivo do morangueiro no sistema semi-hidropônico tem aumentado na região Sul do Brasil por facilitar o manejo, além de evitar adversidades climáticas, pragas e doenças. Contudo, nesse sistema, o ambiente protegido pode dificultar o acesso de insetos polinizadores, fundamentais para a produtividade da cultura. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer a entomofauna associada ao morangueiro da cultivar Albion cultivado no sistema semi-hidropônico e identificar potenciais espécies de abelhas nativas polinizadoras. Os insetos foram capturados em diferentes períodos do dia (9h30min, 12h30min e 15h30min) em três cultivos comerciais localizados nos municípios de Bento Gonçalves e Farroupilha, Rio Grande do Sul. Em cada área de estudo foram realizados três dias de amostragens durante janeiro de 2017. As flores foram visitadas por 47 espécies de insetos. Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) foi a espécie mais abundante, constante, dominante e frequente. Doze espécies de abelhas nativas foram identificadas: Tetragonisca fiebrigi, Tetrapedia sp., Trigona spinipes, Schwarziana quadripunctata, Plebeia emerina, P. remota, Bombus pauloensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Dialictus sp.1, Dialictus sp.2, Augochloropsis sp.1, Augochloropsis sp.2 e Augochlora sp.1 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Todas essas espécies são potenciais polinizadoras da cultura. As espécies nativas T. fiebrigi, P. emerina e P. remota apresentam potencial para polinização dirigida do morangueiro em cultivo protegido devido a abundância e facilidade de manejo.

Trachypus Klug is a Neotropical genus of crabronid wasps comprising 31 ground-nesting species. Its species can be solitary or communal, and two diet ranges are known: they can forage on several bee subfamilies and wasps; or can be specialists on stingless bees. Natural history observations are scarce nowadays but are essential to contextualize ecological and evolutionary studies. Here we report new records and give biological notes for Trachypus elongatus (Fabricius, 1804), Trachypus taschenbergi Rubio-Espina, 1975, and Trachypus varius (Taschenberg, 1875). Observations and samplings were carried out twice a month, during one year in the city of Curitiba, southern Brazil. Besides field observations, circular statistics were used to analyze seasonality. All species nest in sloped soil and are solitary. Trachypus elongatus and T. taschenbergi were active during most of the year with marked seasonality in the late spring and early summer. Both species were observed hunting only stingless bees, with T. elongatus specialized on Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793), and T. taschenbergi specialized on Paratrigona subnuda Moure, 1947 drones. Trachypus varius was observed only in January and one female was recorded foraging on a Paratrigona subnuda worker. Our observations provide additional data for understanding the biology of bee-hunting wasps, and this is the first study to bring information for T. taschenbergi and T. varius. Our data corroborate that some species of the genus Trachypus are specialized on stingless bees.

In the present study we inventoried the diversity of eusocial bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in preserved and anthropized areas of a tropical dry forest in the Parque da Sapucaia (Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil). We tested the hypothesis that the diversity of bee species would: 1) be greater in the preserved areas, 2) respond positively to the structure of the vegetation and 3) decrease during the dry season. We sampled eusocial bee species in 18 plots of 10 x 10 m distributed throughout the park, being nine plots in anthropized areas and nine plots in areas with preserved vegetation. In total we recorded 382 individuals and eight species of eusocial bees. The most abundant species was Oxytrigona tataira (Smith) (N = 233) and the most common species was Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) recorded in 72.2% of the plots. As expected, we found that eusocial bee diversity (Shannon diversity) was higher in preserved plots than in anthropized plots. Tree species richness positively affected bee species richness and abundance, while tree abundance positively influenced the bee abundance and tree height positively affected the bee Shannon diversity, corroborating our expectations. On the other hand, we detected no differences in the diversity of eusocial bees between dry and rainy seasons. Our findings suggest that both natural (vegetation structure) and anthropogenic (habitat modification) factors are important predictors of the diversity of eusocial bee species in tropical dry forests.

Microbes have been identified as fundamental for the good health of bees, acting as pathogens, protective agent against infection/inorganic toxic compounds, degradation of recalcitrant secondary plant metabolites, definition of social group membership, carbohydrate metabolism, honey and bee pollen production. However, study of microbiota associated with bees have been largely confined to the honeybees and solitary bees. Here, I characterized the microbiota of indoor surface nest of four brazilian stingless bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) with different construction behaviors and populations. Bees that use predominantly plant material to build the nest (Frieseomelitta varia and Tetragonisca angustula) have a microbiome dominated by bacteria found in the phylloplane and flowers such as Pseudomonas sp. and Sphingomonas sp. Species that use mud and feces (Trigona spinipes) possess a microbiome dominated by coliforms such as Escherichia coli and Alcaligenes faecalis. Melipona quadrifasciata, which uses both mud / feces and plant resin, showed a hybrid microbiome with microbes found in soil, feces and plant material. These findings indicate that indoor surface microbiome varies widely among bees and reflects the materials used in the construction of the nests.

This study investigated the occurrence of individuals of stingless bees attracted by the trophic resources existing in four edge areas of forest fragments located in the Baturite Massif, State of Ceara. In this sense, the study evaluated the species richness in the areas; the absolute abundance of species; the similarity of species between edges; and the affinity of bees for the same plant species. The sampling of bees compiled a total of 20 species distributed in 12 genera. Seven species stood out for abundance and two (Trigona spinipes and Trigona fulviventris) showed dominance. The results also showed that the fragments present a similar stingless bee fauna and the affinity of the bee species for the same plant species revealed the formation of five distinct bee groups in foraging preferences involving 15 (75%) out of the 20 species of bees studied.

Most flowering plant species, including those under cultivation, are pollinated by animals. The passion flower (Passiflora setacea DC.) variety BRS Perola do Cerrado is apparently dependent on pollinators for the production of its fruits; however, very little is known about its reproductive biology. The present work analyzes the periods of flowering and fruit production, and the morphology, floral biology, visitors and pollinators of P. setacea, as well as the effect of pillagers on its fruit production. The study was carried out between April 2015 and December 2016 on a farm located in the Brazilian Cerrado. Passiflora setacea blooms throughout the year and produces fruit for several months. The greatest fruit production occurs during the off-season of commercial passion flower (Passiflora edulis Sims) fruiting. The flowers of P. setacea depend on bats for pollination; they open in the early evening, are white and are produced in considerable amounts every day. Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1766) has been considered the effective pollinator of P. setacea, although its flowers also receive daytime floral visitors such as bees, wasps and birds. The bees Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758) and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) are pillagers of P. setacea flowers, but do not interfere with fruit production. Passiflora setacea fruits from manual self-pollination are not adequate for commercialization, and the species relies on pollinators for the production of quality fruits with seeds and pulp. In the absence of natural pollinators, farmers should perform manual cross-pollination using pollen from different plants. It is also important that genetically related individuals be kept far from each other in the same plantations.

Sewage sludge is an organic matter-rich material with abundant fractions of nitrogen and other macro and micronutrients, essential for plant growth and development such as Acacia mangium Willd. (Fabales: Fabaceae) used in recovering actions of degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate over 24 months the abundance and diversity of chewing and pollinator insects and arthropod predators on A. mangium plants and the mass production and soil coverage by this plant, fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge, in a degraded area. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with two treatments (with and without dehydrated sewage sludge) and 24 replications. The number of leaves per branch and branches per plant, defoliation percentage by chewing insects, soil cover and abundance of chewing and pollinator insects and arthropod predators were higher on A. mangium plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae) and Trigona spinipes F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most observed insects on trunks and leaves, respectively, of A. mangium plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. The A. mangium fertilization increases the populations of different insect and spider groups on this plant.

Stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important pest of calla lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.), damaging flowers, especially the spadix. The aim was to identify the most efficient packaging for bagging calla lily inflorescences, aiming to protect against the attack of stingless bee and to maintain postharvest quality. The experiment was carried out in a calla lily plantation cultivated in soil under 50% shading screen. Treatments consisted in bagging calla lily flowers with: 1) brown kraft paper bag, 2) non-woven fabric (NWF) bag; 3) transparent plastic bag, 4) transparent micro-perforated plastic bag and 5) control (without bagging). The experimental design was completely randomized with 25 replicates and one inflorescence per plot. Inflorescences received treatments when they presented definitive color, but still with completely closed spathe. Seven days after bagging, inflorescences were collected and evaluated for damages caused by insects in the field and the postharvest characteristics. Postharvest quality evaluations of inflorescences were performed for 12 days, observing expansion of the spathe in length and width, stem weight and visual quality expressed by the number of days that remained in each class. The bagging of calla lily inflorescences was efficient in the control of stingless bee, regardless of packaging used, because under these conditions, no inflorescence presented damage. In control, 84% of damaged inflorescences were observed. Differences in postharvest characteristics were observed and inflorescences remained for longer periods in the process of spathe opening, which is characterized by the measurement of their length and width, when packed. Among packages, NWF allowed longer spathe length at the 6th day of evaluation, larger width at 7th day of evaluation and less fresh mass loss at the end of the experiment (8%). In control, reduction of spathe measurements from the first day of evaluation and loss of 11% of fresh mass were observed. It was concluded that NWF is an efficient packaging to protect calla lily against the attack of stingless bee without compromising the postharvest quality of inflorescences.

Premise of research. Nectar robbers can affect pollinator behavior and indirectly affect plant fitness. The signal of such effects (positive, neutral, or negative) may depend on how the primary pollinators of a given plant species respond to robbed flowers. Comparative studies are important to give insight on which factors are linked to these differential outcomes of nectar robbing on plant reproductive success. Here, we investigated the effect of a common Neotropical nectar robber, the stingless bee, Trigona spinipes (Apidae), on the reproductive success of the bee-pollinated Crotalaria vitellina (Fabaceae) and the hummingbird-pollinated Besleria longimucronata (Gesneriaceae).Methodology. We compared the robbing rate (number of flowers robbed relative to total flower display) between species and evaluated the effect of robbing on plant reproductive success by comparing the seed number per fruit of robbed fruits (identified by the presence of scars in the calyx, caused by the robber) with that of intact f...

Plant interactions with flower visitors are essential to understand the reproductive biology, evolution and distribution of flowering plants. Morphological convergences of flower traits have allowed flowers to maximize their attraction to pollinator agents leading to the concept of pollination syndromes. Due to habitat heterogeneity, low water retention and resource availability in the soil, as well as broad altitudinal range of the system, plants often show restricted distributions in rupestrian grasslands. The present study aimed to describe the floral biology and reproductive aspects of Collaea cipoensis , a shrub restricted to small patches alongside watercourses in rupestrian grasslands of Serra do Cipo, Brazil. Specifically, we examined the dependence on pollinators to set fruits and the functional role of floral visitors (i.e. pollinators, nectar-robbers, nectar-thieves, and florivores). Collaea cipoensis is a strictly xenogamous species and two hummingbirds ( Colibri serrirostris and Eupetomena macroura ) are its potential pollinators. Although C. serrirostris also behaves as illegitimate visitor, it represents 90% of legitimate visits, thus being the most important pollinator. However, the most common flower visitors are two important nectar-robbers, the bee Trigona spinipes and the syrphid Toxomerus musicus. The species is self-incompatible and pollen-limited, as hand-pollination increased fruit production more than 50%. Still, hand-pollination set only 20% of fruits and 48% of seeds. Overall, the dependence on cross-pollination, the stressful environmental conditions and the high floral visitation rates by illegitimate visitors may limit reproduction of this species, leading to a fitness reduction. Our results reinforce the idea that rupestrian grasslands conform a complex scenario that restricts the species distribution.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:30:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-02-01 Zeyheria tuberculosa, a Bignoniaceae tree that occurs in a broad latitudinal range in Brazilian forests, is a threatened species of seasonal tropical forest. It is crucial to enhance the knowledge on this species’ floral biology, since interactions related to reproduction of plants are critical for the long term maintenance of their populations. Thus, we investigated the sexual reproduction and floral biology of Z. tuberculosa, including nectar features, aiming to understand the ecological processes associated to this mutualistic plant-animal interaction in the current modified landscape. For this, we performed experiments under natural conditions and in the laboratory. All the evaluated plants were self-incompatible. Zeyheria tuberculosa was pollinated by Bombus pauloensis, a medium-sized bee, and offered hexose-rich nectar as resource. Flowers were also visited by small-sized bee species, Trigona spinipes, that acted as pollen thief, and Pseudoaugochlora pandora and P. graminae that acted as nectar thieves. These three bee groups exhibited temporal separation in the peak of visits throughout the day. The peak of pollinator visits occurred firstly, which may allow the pollinator to access nectar and pollen loads before they are exploited by thieves. However, bee pollinator visits were scarce, and this fact, associated to the self-incompatibility of Z. tuberculosa, may explain the low fruit set registered in the studied plants. It could be of special concern for this threatened species maintenance in the medium and long term, which depends on the offspring originated by sexual reproduction. Graduation Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Biosciences, Caixa Postal 510 Department of Life Sciences University of Siena, Via P. A. Mattioli 4 Department of Botany São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Biosciences, Caixa Postal 510 Graduation Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Biosciences, Caixa Postal 510 Department of Botany São Paulo State University (Unesp) Institute of Biosciences, Caixa Postal 510

Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Apidae: Meliponini), is a common stingless bee widely seen in urban and rural areas in Brazil, popularly known as irapuá, arapuá or bee-dog. Although these bees are considered pollinators of some cultivated plants, they are better known for the damage they cause in different crops. During experimental agroecological cultivation of Artemisia (Artemisia annua Linn, Asteraceae), in Jaguariúna (SP, Brazil), stingless bees Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) were observed sucking phloem sap directly from the plant, a phenomenon not yet described in scientific literature. This study aimed to register and describe the phloem sap-sucking behavior performed by T. spinipes for the first time, as well as to assess the potential impact of this behavior on A. annua cultivation. The behavior and the material collected by bees and the severity of attack were also analyzed. The aging and premature death of observed A. annua specimens occurred because of extensive lesions caused by T. spinipes, confirming the negative consequence of sap-sucking attacks of T. spinipes bees on the plants. Factors that could induce this unusual behavior were presented, pointing out the need for future studies on the development of strategies to protect plants, without causing damage to the T. spinipes bee populations, which are elements of Brazilian bee fauna and, therefore, protected by law

Sewage sludge is an organic matter-rich material with abundant fractions of nitrogen and other macro and micronutrients, essential for plant growth and development such as Acacia mangium Willd. (Fabales: Fabaceae) used in recovering actions of degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate over 24 months the abundance and diversity of chewing and pollinator insects and arthropod predators on A. mangium plants and the mass production and soil coverage by this plant, fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge, in a degraded area. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with two treatments (with and without dehydrated sewage sludge) and 24 replications. The number of leaves per branch and branches per plant, defoliation percentage by chewing insects, soil cover and abundance of chewing and pollinator insects and arthropod predators were higher on A. mangium plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. Nasutitermes sp. (Blattodea: Termitidae) and Trigona spinipes F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most observed insects on trunks and leaves, respectively, of A. mangium plants fertilized with dehydrated sewage sludge. The A. mangium fertilization increases the populations of different insect and spider groups on this plant.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of Meliponini and anothers Apiformes (Apidae sensu lato) from a Cerrado fragment and its surrounding. Malaise traps were installed in a pasture near a fragment of Cerrado and its surrounding, from October to December 2010. Samples were collected at seven-day intervals and preserved in Dietrich solution. The apiforms specimens from each sample were separated in morphospecies and sent to identification. The tribe Meliponini was the most abundant in open areas of pasture than in the Cerrado fragment. The Meliponini species present were Trigona gr. fulviventris, Paratrigona lineata, Trigona recursa, Partamona sp, Trigona spinipes, Trigona gr. hyalinata, Trigona gr. fulviventris, Tetragonisca fiebrigi, Tetragona clavipes, Frieseomelitta cf. flavicornis, Lestrimelitta rufipes. The dominant species was Paratrigona lineata, comprising 82.47% of all species collected. Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a diversidade de Meliponini e demais apiformes (Apidae sensu lato) de um fragmento de Cerrado e seus arredores. Armadilhas de Malaise foram instaladas em área de pastagem próximas a fragmento de Cerrado, de outubro a dezembro de 2010. As amostras foram coletadas em intervalos de sete dias e conservadas em solução de Dietrich. Das amostras foram separados os espécimes apiformes em morfoespécies e enviadas para identificação. A tribo Meliponini foi a mais abundante em áreas abertas de pastagem que em áreas de fragmento de Cerrado. As espécies de Meliponini presentes foram de Meliponini Trigona gr. fulviventris, Paratrigona lineata, Trigona recursa, Partamona sp, Trigona spinipes, Trigona gr. hyalinata, Trigona gr. fulviventris, Tetragonisca fiebrigi, Tetragona clavipes, Frieseomelitta cf. flavicornis, Lestrimelitta rufipes. A espécie dominante com 82,47% de indivíduos coletados foi Paratrigona lineata.

A urbanizacao tem causado a fragmentacao de varios ambientes naturais, levando a perda de muitos processos ecologicos como a polinizacao, realizada principalmente por abelhas, em especial as especies de Meliponini, que tem reduzido drasticamente as suas populacoes devido a perda de habitat pela expansao urbana. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um levantamento das especies de abelhas sem ferrao em areas urbanas do municipio de Uba - MG, Brasil, relacionar a riqueza e abundância das especies encontradas com a taxa de ocupacao das variaveis estruturais da paisagem das areas urbana e relacionar a presenca das especies obtidos com estas variaveis. Foram encontrados 28 ninhos pertencentes a quatro especies, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier) e Friesella schrottkyi (Friese). Nao houve relacao significativa entre a riqueza e abundância de Meliponini e variaveis estruturais de vegetacao analisadas, possivelmente devido a valores baixos no numero de ninhos e especies encontrados. Somente T. spinipes se mostrou relacionada com a presenca de vegetacao. Os resultados mostram que a comunidade Meliponini e composta por especies generalistas capazes de utilizar cavidades artificiais e plantas ornamentais como uma fonte alternativa de recursos, comuns em areas urbanas. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo servem de alerta para atuais condicoes dos remanescentes vegetais em areas urbanas na cidade de Uba, alem de tambem poderem ser usados como material de apoio na tomada de decisao sobre projetos de conservacao e recuperacao de areas degradadas, tendo como foco sobre as abelhas e sua importância para a sustentabilidade destes ecossistemas. Where the most Adapted Remain: Stingless Bees Community (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) in Urban Areas of the City of Uba, Minas Gerais, Brazil Abstract. The urbanization has caused the fragmentation of various natural environments, taking to loss of many ecological processes in which includes pollination, realized mainly by bees, in special Meliponini species, which has drastically reduced their populations due to loss of habitat for urban expansion. The aim of this study was to survey the species of stingless bees in urban areas of the municipality of Uba - MG, Brazil, relate the richness and abundance of species found with the percentage of occupation of the structural variables of the urban landscape and relate the presence of the species obtained with these variables. Were found 28 nests belonging to four species, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier) and Friesella schrottkyi (Friese). There was no significant relationship between richness and abundance of Meliponini and structural variables of vegetation, possibly due to low values in the number of nests and species obtained. Only T. spinipes showed related to the presence of vegetation. The results show that the Meliponini community is composed by generalist species able to use artificial cavities and ornamental plants as an alternative source of resources, common in urban areas. The results obtained in this study is a warning to current conditions of the plant remaining in urban areas in the city of Uba, besides may also be used as support in taking-decision on projects for the conservation and recovery of degraded areas, focusing on bees and their importance to the sustainability of these ecosystems.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:32:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-05-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Many Velloziaceae flowers present conspicuous glands, whose taxonomic value has already been highlighted. However, until now, their micromorphology, anatomy and ultrastructure have not been investigated, nor have the natures and possible functions of their exudates. Our aim was to investigate distribution, ontogenesis, structure, and secretion mechanisms of glands of Barbacenia flava and Vellozia intermedia and to discuss their possible ecological functions. Samples were prepared according to standard methods for investigations of plant anatomy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Histochemical tests were performed, and focal field observations were made in the study site. The capitate stalked glands on the pedicel, tepals and hypanthium are covered by a sticky secretion that is released in the gland head through the outer periclinal cell walls and cuticle. Secretions are produced in the epidermal and subepidermal cells that contain structural components typical of mixed, mainly lipophilic secretions. Bacteria were found inside the oil-resin gland cells of both species. The Meliponina bees Trigona spinipes and Tetragonisca angustula were observed collecting resin from both species, but were not involved in pollination. Our observations clearly indicate that flower glands of B. flava and V. intermedia are oil-resin secreting and remain active in secretion from very young buds, through to immature fruit. New, smaller glands replace senescent glands by divisions near the base of the original stalk cells. Oil-resin glands have a number of different, but important functions, including the interaction with Meliponina bees, protection against water loss and high temperatures by ultraviolet screening, and anti-desiccant properties. Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacl, Dept Bot, BR-22940040 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, Caixa Postal 510, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, Caixa Postal 510, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil FAPERJ: E-26/111.207/2014 CNPq: 447624/2014-8

To better understand the relationship between Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae) with its floral visitors, we investigated stigma receptivity and flowering pattern, as well as the abundance, frequency and behavior of bees visiting its flowers, aiming to discuss their potential as pollinator of this plant species. We studied S. mombin in an orchard in Northeastern Brazil. Stigma receptivity coincided with the time bees were foraging, mainly for pollen. According to the bee behavior on flowers, their visiting hour, abundance, and frequency in the studied area, we concluded that Apis mellifera (Linnaeus), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Xylocopa grisescens (Lepeletier) and Augochloropsis sp. are potential pollinators of S. mombin. Also, A. mellifera and T. spinipes were the most abundant species in the area and collected floral resources with greater frequency, contributing more significantly to pollination. Due to the overwhelmingly presence of these two bee species in NE Brazil, we conclude they are the main potential pollinators of S. mombin in the region. Para comprender mejor la relación entre Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae) y sus visitantes florales, investigamos la receptividad del estigma y el patrón de floración, así como la abundancia, frecuencia y comportamiento de las abejas que visitan sus flores, con el fin de discutir su potencial como polinizadores de esta frutífera. Estudiamos esta relación en un cultivo en el noreste de Brasil. La receptividad del estigma ocorrió en el momento en que las abejas visitaban las flores para recolectar recursos, principalmente polen. De acuerdo al comportamiento de las abejas en flores, horarios de visita, abundancia y frecuencia en el área estudiada, se concluye que Apis mellifera (Linnaeus), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Xylocopa grisescens (Lepeletier) y Augochloropsis sp. son polinizadores potenciales de S. mombin. Además, A. mellifera y T. spinipes fueron las especies más abundantes en el área y recolectaron recursos florales con mayor frecuencia, contribuyendo más significativamente a la polinización y la fructificación inicial que otras especies de abejas. Debido a la abundante presencia de estas dos especies de abejas en el noreste de Brasil, concluimos que son los principales potenciales polinizadores de S. mombin en la región. Para compreender melhor a relação entre Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae) e seus visitantes florais, investigamos a receptividade do estigma e o padrão de florescimento, bem como a abundância, frequência e o comportamento das abelhas que visitam suas flores, com o objetivo de discutir seu potencial como polinizadores desta espécie de planta. Estudamos essa relação em um pomar no Nordeste do Brasil. A receptividade do estigma coincidiu com o momento em que as abelhas visitavam as flores para coleta de recursos, principalmente pólen. De acordo com o comportamento das abelhas nas flores, horário de visitas, abundância e frequência na área estudada, concluímos que Apis mellifera (Linnaeus), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius), Xylocopa grisescens (Lepeletier) e Augochloropsis sp. são potenciais polinizadores de S. mombin. Além disso, A. mellifera e T. spinipes foram as espécies mais abundantes na área e coletaram recursos florais com maior frequência, contribuindo de forma mais significativa para a polinização. Devido à abundante presença dessas duas espécies de abelhas no Nordeste do Brasil, concluímos que elas são os principais potenciais polinizadores de S. mombin na região.

Aquatic macrophytes that occur in isolated ponds in hostile pasture matrices may be subject to setbacks in the delicate balance of animal-plant interactions, such as pollination systems. In this work we took as a model Nymphaea pulchella DC., a species which occurs in isolated ponds in pastures in Northeast Brazil. In this study, we hoped to elucidate how complex pollination mechanisms can survive in human-dominated landscapes. We conducted studies involving floral biology to determine the morphological structure of the whorls and the anthesis sequence. We also analyzed behavior and frequency of floral visitors, as well as how the floral organs were used as resources and tried to determine if there was pollinator dependence through pollen tube analyses and controlled pollination experiments. We recorded a gradient structure of floral organs and differences in the timing and extent of floral opening between days. Trigona spinipes consumes all floral whorls indiscriminately (configuring direct and indirect florivory). Despite the florivory, this bee was the most abundant floral visitor and was the only one confirmed effective pollinator. N. pulchella is autogamous with delayed self-pollination, but there were significantly more fruits formed in flowers exposed to bees than in spontaneous self-pollination, and even flowers with partially consumed ovaries produced fruits. Since interaction with T. spinipes contributes to greater fruit formation, we believe this supergeneralist, native bee is an important factor in ensuring the success of N. pulchella in occupying the pasture matrix studied.

A acuidade de se obter o conhecimento da diversidade de abelhas nativas de um determinado local e suas inter-relações com o ecossistema são inúmeras, afinal, além de serem os maiores polinizadores e responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento das plantas existentes do meio ambiente, também se destacam pelo seu valor econômico e sociocultural. Objetivou-se registrar o etnoconhecimento sobre abelhas sem ferrão pelos moradores da comunidade José Gomes, município de Cabeceiras do Piauí, Piauí. Os dados foram levantados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas aplicadas a 43 atores locais, sendo 39 homens e quatro mulheres. Os meliponíneos foram capturados por meio de rede entomológica e vasilhames, e encaminhados para identificação. Foram coletados 124 espécimes, distribuídos em seis gêneros e 13 espécies de abelhas sem ferrão. Das espécies amostradas, as mais abundantes foram Scaptotrigona sp. (n=25), Trigona sp. (n=17), Tetragona sp. (n=14), Trigona spinipes (n=13) e Partamona ailyae (n=10). O índice de Shannon-Wiener (H’) foi utilizado para estimar a diversidade de abelhas sem ferrão, que foi de H’=1,02. Constatou-se que os moradores percebem e reconhecem a diversidade de meliponíneos existentes na área estudada, não obstante é necessário que se estabeleça maior divulgação sobre a importância do papel desses insetos para a conservação do ecossistema, aprimorado por meio de uma intensificada educação ambiental, principalmente no que concerne a conservação das abelhas sem ferrão e das plantas melitófilas.

The objective of this study was to verify floral visitors of canola in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A completely randomized plot design with two hybrids and 10 replicates was used, totaling 20 plots. The survey of floral visitors was made during 10 days. Faunal analyses of the collected species were performed based on frequency, constancy, dominance, and diversity. A total of 2,676 individuals belonging to 13 species of bees of two families (Apidae and Halictidae) were collected. The diversity index found among hybrids was similar (1.28 in hybrid 61 and 1.50 in hybrid 433). The species Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Paratrigona lineata (Lepeletier, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most abundant and constant in the crops during all the evaluated days for both hybrids. So, it is important that efforts be made to conserve natural areas close to crops in order to provide resources for the permanence of floral visitors in the area. RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os visitantes florais de canola na região do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental de blocos inteiramente randomizados com dois híbridos e 10 amostras replicadas, totalizando 20 amostras. A pesquisa de visitantes florais foi feita durante 10 dias. As análises faunísticas das espécies coletadas foram realizadas com base na frequência, constância, domínio, riqueza e diversidade. Um total de 2.676 indivíduos pertencentes a 13 espécies de abelhas de duas famílias (Apidae e Halictidae) foram coletados. A riqueza das espécies encontradas entre os híbridos foi semelhante (10 espécies no híbrido 61 e 12 espécies no híbrido 433), bem como o índice de diversidade (1,28 no híbrido 61 e 1,50 no híbrido 433). A espécie Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Paratrigona lineata (Lepeletier, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) e Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) foram as mais abundantes e constantes nas culturas durante todos os dias avaliados para ambos os híbridos. Com isso, é importante que sejam feitos esforços para conservar as áreas naturais próximas às culturas, a fim de fornecer recursos para a permanência de visitantes florais na área.

Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Apidae: Meliponini), is a common stingless bee widely seen in urban and rural areas in Brazil, popularly known as irapuá, arapuá or bee-dog. Although these bees are considered pollinators of some cultivated plants, they are better known for the damage they cause in different crops. During experimental agroecological cultivation of Artemisia (Artemisia annua Linn, Asteraceae), in Jaguariúna (SP, Brazil), stingless bees Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) were observed sucking phloem sap directly from the plant, a phenomenon not yet described in scientific literature. This study aimed to register and describe the phloem sap-sucking behavior performed by T. spinipes for the first time, as well as to assess the potential impact of this behavior on A. annua cultivation. The behavior and the material collected by bees and the severity of attack were also analyzed. The aging and premature death of observed A. annua specimens occurred because of extensive lesions caused by T. spinipes, confirming the negative consequence of sap-sucking attacks of T. spinipes bees on the plants. Factors that could induce this unusual behavior were presented, pointing out the need for future studies on the development of strategies to protect plants, without causing damage to the T. spinipes bee populations, which are elements of Brazilian bee fauna and, therefore, protected by law. Made available in DSpace on 2020-03-13T01:10:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MalagodiBragaActivePhloem2019.pdf: 1202209 bytes, checksum: c1880f359c1cc90931ce2b9de6bca0c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019

Resumo. A pitaia Hylocereus spp. (Cactaceae) e uma especie frutifera exotica com cultivo em fase de expansao no Brasil. Problemas com pragas ainda sao poucos relatados. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar a ocorrencia da abelha arapua Trigona spinipes (Fabr.)(Hymenoptera: Apidae) em especies de pitaia Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) e Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) no municipio de Couto de Magalhaes de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os danos principais decorrentes do ataque ocorrem nos frutos maduros, depreciando o fruto para comercializacao. Este registro demonstra que T. spinipes necessita ser monitorada pelo potencial causador de danos significativos em pitaia e consequentemente perdas na producao. Attack of Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae) in dragon fruit Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) and Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) (Cactaceae) in Couto de Magalhaes de Minas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil Abstract. The dragon fruit Hylocereus spp. (Cactaceae) is an exotic fruit species with crop in expansion phase in Brazil. Problems with pests are still few reported. The objective of this work was to report the occurrence of the Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) bee on the dragon fruit species Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) and Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) in the municipality of Couto de Magalhaes de Minas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The main damages resulting from the attack occur in the mature fruits, depreciating them for commercialization. This record demonstrates that T. spinipes needs to be monitored for the potential to damage dragon fruit and consequently production losses.

Commercial cultivation of grapes (Vitis sp.) is expanding in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, Brazil. However, one of the key aspects for successful grapevine cultivation is a knowledge of the pests affecting the crop, especially in regions where cultivation is recent and in the initial phase of expansion. Consequently, the study objective was to conduct the first-ever study of damage by bees to grapes in the semi-arid state of Rio Grande do Norte, and to quantify the losses caused by the attack. The study occurred in a vinyard planted with ‘Itália’ and ‘Isabel’ varieties, located in a semiarid region of RN, in the Mossoró municipality. Studies quantifying damage occurred in the dry season (August - September 2014) and rainy season (February - March 2015). The bees Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were observed to cause damage to bunches of grapes only during the dry period of the year. The bees caused significant losses in the ‘Isabel’ and ‘Italia’ varieties, with 75.94 and 72.11% of bunches having more than 5% of grapes damaged, respectively.

Plant-pollinator interactions range from obligatory specialists to facultative generalists, and floral morphology and pollination system may not match completely. The floral biology, reproductive system and floral visitors of a species of the tribe Rhipsalideae were investigated with a focus on the consistency between the pollination system and the floral phenotype. Rhipsalis neves-armondii is an obligate xenogamous species, due to self-sterility. Its flowers are white, small and diurnal, and radially symmetrical. These features, along with their small amount of nectar, characterize the flowers as phenotypic generalists. The most frequent pollinators were a solitary oligolectic species of Andrenidae (Rhophitulus solani), two species of Meliponinae (Trigona spinipes and T. braueri) and Apis mellifera. Despite the generalist floral phenotype, the pollination system is functionally specialized, since only small bees performed effective visits. Flowers of R. neves-armondii may represent a case of cryptic floral specialization in which attributes other than morphology act as filters, restricting them to a single functional group of pollinators. Moreover, the four most frequent species of pollinators cover a spectrum ranging from solitary oligolectic to social polylectic bees, including an exotic species. These results illustrate the distinct dimensions of specialization-generalization that may occur in the pollination process of a single species.

Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation negatively affect crop pollinators and productivity of several crop species. The yellow passion fruit is an excellent model to investigate this issue, because its main pollinators are sensitive to deforestation. Seasonality also influences fruit set of crop species that are pollinated by bees. Climate determines plant flowering patterns and consequently affects pollinator activity. Little is known on effects of pollinators on crop quality in general, and particularly of many tropical fruits that have multiple fruiting seasons throughout the year, such as passion fruit. Our hypothesis is that the distance to the native vegetation and climate seasonality affect the pollination and fruit production of cultivated, hermaphrodite, self-incompatible, protandrous species that depend on large-sized bees to set fruit. We observed flowers of the yellow passion fruit in eight areas at different distances (600-4,000 m) from a dry seasonal forest (Caatinga). We compared the frequency of the main floral visitor (pollinators and robbers) visits and fruit set among areas at the beginning and end of the dry and rainy seasons. Xylocopa species were pollinators, and Apis mellifera, Trigona spinipes and a hummingbird were robbers. Xylocopa visits diminished with increasing distance to native remnants, converse to what was observed for the robbers at the beginning of the dry season. Fruit set was higher at the beginning of the dry season. The distance to the forest affected quality of fruits in terms of length, diameter and skin thickness, which all decreased with increase in remnant distance. Our results show that insect pollination is higher in the dry season, increasing profitability and reducing labour costs for the producer. Considering the influence of distance to native vegetation on pollination, robbery and fruit quality, our study reinforces the necessity for conservation of native vegetation remnants.

Pollination services are increasingly threatened by the loss and modification of natural habitats, posing a risk to the maintenance of both native plant biodiversity and agricultural production. In order to safeguard pollination services, it is essential to examine the impacts of habitat degradation on the population dynamics of key pollinators and identify potential “rescue pollinators” capable of persisting in these human-altered landscapes. Using a landscape genetic approach, we assessed the impact of landscape structure on genetic differentiation in the widely-distributed tropical stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Apidae: Meliponini) across agricultural landscape mosaics composed of coffee plantations and Atlantic forest fragments in southeastern Brazil. We genotyped 115 bees at 16 specific and highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, developed using next-generation sequencing. Our results reveal that T. spinipes is capable of dispersing across remarkably long distances, as we did not find genetic differentiation across a 200 km range, nor fine-scale spatial genetic structure. Furthermore, gene flow was not affected by forest cover, land cover, or elevation, indicating that reproductive individuals are able to disperse well through agricultural landscapes and across altitudinal gradients. We also found evidence of a recent population expansion, suggesting that this opportunistic stingless bee is capable of colonizing degraded habitats. Our results thus suggest that T. spinipes can persist in heavily-altered landscapes and can be regarded as a rescue pollinator, potentially compensating for the decline of other native pollinators in degraded tropical landscapes.

Our aim was to assess the seasonal abundance and diversity of arthropods on Acacia mangium Willd. (Fabales: Fabaceae) trees. Phytophagous arthropods, natural enemies and pollinators were quantified biweekly in 20 trees during 3 years. The Shannon biodiversity index (H’) of arthropods was greater in the summer and smaller in the winter and spring on A. magium. The diversities of species and abundances of individuals of all arthropod taxa were greater in the autumn and smaller in the winter and in the spring. The H’ index of arthropods was greater in 2005 and smaller in 2007. The diversity of species and abundance of individuals of phytophagous taxa were greater in 2005 and 2006, respectively, whereas those of natural enemies and pollinators was greater in 2006. Aethalion reticulatum L. (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) was the most abundant phytophagous species found in the various seasons, while Camponotus sp.2 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini), Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae, Meliponini) and Polistes sp. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) were the most abundant natural enemies and pollinators. The great diversity of predators on this tree species can explain the little damage to its leaves. These results may be applied to support programs of pest control and maintenance of natural enemies and pollinators in future plantations of A. mangium. Nuestro objetivo era evaluar la abundancia y diversidad estacional de artrópodos en Acacia mangium Willd. (Fabales: Fabaceae) árboles. Artrópodos fitófagos, enemigos naturales y polinizadores se cuantificaron bisemanal en 20 árboles durante tres años. El índice de biodiversidad de Shannon (H’) de estos tres artrópodos fue mayor en el verano y más bajos en invierno y primavera en A. magium. La diversidad de especies y abundancia de individuos de todos los artrópodos fueron mayores en el otoño y la más baja en el invierno y en la primavera. El índice H’ de artrópodos fue mayor en 2005 y menor en 2007. La diversidad de especies y abundancia de individuos de fitófagos fueron mayores en 2005 y 2006, respectivamente, mientras que de los enemigos naturales y polinizadores fue mayor en 2006. Aethalion reticulatum L. (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) fue el fitófago más abundante en las diferentes estaciones del año, mientras Camponotus sp. 2 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini), Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae, Meliponini) y Polistes sp. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) fueron los más abundantes enemigos naturales y polinizadores. La gran diversidad de depredadores de esta especie arbórea puede explicar el bajo daño en sus hojas. Estos resultados pueden ser un apoyo para los programas de control de plagas y el mantenimiento de los enemigos naturales y polinizadores en las futuras plantaciones de A. mangium.

We studied eight species of meliponines native to the vast savanna and plateau area of “Cerrado” in central Brazil, where fire and human activities have removed over half of the natural habitat. We discuss the pot-pollen and yeast species and found 247 different pollen types. Melipona quinquefasciata and Trigona spinipes used only 14 and 19 pollen types, respectively. Yeasts of the Starmerella clade were found, and stingless bee species concentrated pollen harvesting on a relatively narrow range of flowers.

The blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade, Ericaceae) is a small fruit with great growth potential in Brazil. This research was developed in order to identify the insects found on associated to the different phenological stages of blueberry in order to implement the integrated pest management for this crop. Insect samples were collected from three orchards, in the region of Pelotas, RS, from January 2010 to June 2012. The data were analyzed based on the composition and abundance of the collected insects. In all three sites, 2,354 insects were studied and the majority belonged to Hymenoptera (72%), Coleoptera (16%), Hemiptera (6%) and Diptera (4%). Forty-one families were identified with 59% of the listed insects belonging to the Apidae family, followed by 11% for Chrysomelidae and Formicidae. Overall, 50 species of insects were identified and Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) and Apis mellifera L. were the most abundant. Of the species found, 78% were herbivores, while 22% was beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) belonging to the orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Dermaptera. The analysis of variance with the randomization test showed that the insect fauna does not differ between locations and phenological stages. The interaction of site with phenological stages was not significant for the three grade levels (order, family and species). The knowledge of the entomofauna associated with blueberry, along with the similarity in composition with the phenological stages and evaluated sites, contributes to the development of integrated pest management and establishment of production system for this new culture in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. RESUMO O mirtilo (Vaccinium ashei Reade, Ericaceae) é uma das pequenas frutas com grande potencial de crescimento no Brasil. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de conhecer a entomofauna associada aos diferentes estádios fenológicos do mirtileiro, com vistas à implementação do manejo integrado de pragas nesta cultura. Foram realizadas coletas de insetos em três pomares da região de Pelotas-RS, de janeiro de 2010 a junho de 2012. Os dados foram analisados com base na composição e abundância dos insetos coletados. Nos três locais foram observados 2.354 insetos, sendo a maioria pertencente às ordens Hymenóptera (72%), Coleoptera (16%), Hemíptera (6%) e Díptera (4%). Foram identificadas 41 famílias, sendo 59% do total de insetos coletados pertencentes à família Apidae, seguida por 11% das famílias Chrysomelidae e Formicidae. Ao todo, 50 espécies de insetos foram identificadas, sendo Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) e Apis mellifera L. as mais abundantes. Do total de espécies encontradas, 78% foram consideradas herbívoras, enquanto o restante 2% esteve representado por insetos benéficos (polinizadores, predadores e parasitoides) pertencentes às ordens Hymenóptera, Coleóptera e Dermáptera. Com base em análises de variância com teste de aleatorização, foi determinado que a entomofauna não diferiu quanto à localização dos pomares e quanto aos estádios do cultivo. Os resultados indicaram que não houve diferenças significativas para a interação dos fatores local de coleta e estádio para os três níveis de classificação (ordem, família e espécie). O conhecimento da entomofauna ,associada ao mirtileiro, aliado à semelhança na sua composição, tanto nos estádios fenológicos como nos pomares avaliados, contribuirão para o desenvolvimento do manejo integrado de pragas e para o estabelecimento do sistema de produção, para esta nova cultura, na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul.

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Fabaceae) is widely used to regenerate degraded landscapes in tropical and subtropical regions and serves as a protein source for animals in agrosilvopastoral systems. Thus, our objective was to assess the spatial distribution of insects on the tree crown (vertical: upper, middle, and basal canopy; horizontal: north, south, east, and west) and leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial) of L. leucocephala. Phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators were quantified fortnightly in 20 trees for 2 yr. North-facing tree branches had the greatest numbers of phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators. Branches facing west had the most species-rich and biodiverse phytophagous and pollinator assemblages, whereas for natural enemies, species richness and biodiversity were greatest on branches facing north or south. The greatest numbers of individuals and highest levels of species richness of phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators were observed in the upper and middle parts of the L. leucocephala canopy. The most individuals and highest levels of species richness and biodiversity for phytophagous insects, natural enemies, and pollinators were observed on the abaxial face of L. leucocephala leaves. The species with the highest abundance and k-dominance (common or constant species) on L. leucocephala trees were the phytophagous insects Trigona spinipes F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae) and Tropidacris collaris Stoll (Orthoptera: Romaleidae) and the natural enemies Camponotus sp.2 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Brachymyrmex sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). These results can inform strategies related to pest control and maintenance of natural enemies and pollinators in L. leucocephala plantations. Biopesticide application, for example, may be more effective at eliminating target organisms if directly applied on their preferred sites, and a targeted application can minimize negative effects for non-target organisms. Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) Wit (Fabaceae) es ampliamente usada en el proceso de recuperación de suelos degrados en regiones tropicales y subtropicales así como fuente de proteínas para animales en sistemas agroforestales. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la distribución espacial de los insectos en las copas de las árboles (vertical- parte mas alta, parte media e parte baja de la copa del arbol; y en la horizontal- norte, sur, este y oeste) y en las susperficies de hojas (adaxial y abaxial) de árboles de L. leucocephala. Los insectos fitófagos, enemigos naturales y polinizadores fueron cuantificados dos veces por mes en 20 árboles durante dos años. El número, mas grande, de fitófagos, enemigos naturales y polinizadores individuales fueron observados en las ramas orientadas al norte. La mayor riqueza de especies y biodiversidad de fitófagos se observaron en las ramas orientadas al oeste y para los enemigos naturales y polinizadores en las ramas orientadas al norte/sur y oeste, respectivamente. Los mayores valores de individuos, riqueza de especies, biodiversidad de fitófagos, enemigos naturales y polinizadores fueron observados en la parte mas alta y media de la copa del arbol de L. leucocephala. Los fitófagos y enemigos naturales mas abundantes y con la mas grande k-dominancia observados en las muestras (común/especie constante) fueron L. leucocephala y Trigona spinipes F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponinae), Tropidacris collaris Stoll (Orthoptera: Romaleidae), Camponotus sp.2 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y Brachymyrmex sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), respectivamente. Estos resultados pueden ser un soporte para programas de reducción del uso de pesticidas y conservacion de enemigos naturales y polinizadores en plantaciones de L. leucocephala. Por ejemplo, aplicaciones de biopesticidas pueden alcanzar mejores resultados si esta dirigido a organismos de destino, mas allá de minimizar los efectos negativos en aquellos que no son de destino.

Pollinators are extremely important in agricultural crops because their deficit can affect food production in the world. Consequently, a lot of studies have been emphasizing the importance of the knowledge about the biology of these agents. The tomato stands out among the economically most important crops. Therefore, the objectives of this work were: to identify the pollinators of Solanum lycopersicum in a conventional area of cultivation in the southeast of Minas Gerais State and detect which of these are more representative; to assess the importance of the pollinators' action for the quality of the fruits produced; and discuss practices for conservation to these agents. Fifteen floral visitors were found, with Exomalopsis analis being the most representative. Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes, although not vibrating bees, also acted as pollinators of Solanum lycopersicum. RESUMO Polinizadores são extremamente importantes em cultivos agrícolas, pois o seu déficit pode afetar a produção de alimentos no mundo. Sendo assim, estudos têm enfatizado a importância do conhecimento sobre a biologia desses agentes. Dentre as espécies olerícolas mais importantes economicamente, destaca-se o tomate. Assim, este estudo objetivou identificar os potenciais polinizadores de Solanum lycopersicum em uma área de cultivo convencional no sudeste do Estado de Minas Gerais; identificar quais destes são mais representativos, verificar a importância da sua ação na qualidade dos frutos produzidos e discutir práticas para a conservação desses agentes. Foram encontrados 15 visitantes florais, sendo Exomalopsis analis o mais representativo. Apis mellifera e Trigona spinipes, mesmo não sendo abelhas vibradoras, também atuaram como polinizadores de Solanum lycopersicum.