Annual Foraging Patterns of the Maya Bee Melipona beecheii (Bennett, 1831) in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

For about a year we studied the foraging behavior of the ‘Maya bee’ Melipona beecheii in Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. We determined the pollen and nectar foraging behavior, the brood cell number, and the amount of honey and pollen pots in eight nests each 2 months from June 2008 to June 2009. The pollen foraging activity, and stored pot-pollen available in the nests, peaked in February, and nectar foraging in April. However, the number of brood cells was highest in October, which corresponded to the end of the rainy season. We found a strong correlation between the number of brood cells and pollen and nectar foraging, a moderate correlation between nectar foraging and stored honey, and a weak relationship between foraged pollen and pollen pots. Finally, and contrary to what was expected, we did not find any positive correlation between brood cells and stored pollen, probably during some periods most of the pollen foraged was immediately used for feeding the brood or perhaps because the colonies anticipated and provided for brood continuation during periods of scarcity.