Abstract
The stingless bees are important flowers visitors of several plant species, due to their feeding habits and foraging behavior, constituting an important group to maintain biodiversity and the dynamics of tropical communities. Among stingless bees, Tetragonisca angustula is widely distributed in tropical habitats, and has been considered an important pollinator of different plant families. To support a rational economic use of this group, there is a need to characterize the plant species that represent important sources as part of their diet, as preferred, alternative or casual food sources. The aim of this survey was to distinguish the plant species that T. angustula visited most often. The study was undertaken in four regions of the Atlantic Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil) over a year from March 2008 to February 2009. For this, we collected bees, flowering plants and bee pollen loads from the four sites, and evaluated pollen morphology in the laboratory. Field observations showed the presence of plants belonging to ten different families and pollen loads showed the presence of pollen types belonging to 26 plant families. There were strong differences between pollen types, especially regarding pollen grain shape. The present survey suggests a high value of these plant species as trophic resources for the T. angustula in the understory of Atlantic Rainforest. Changes in these fragments of this forest may compromise the availability of resources for Tetragonisca angustula species and other stingless bees.
Highlights
Among stingless bees, Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Apidae: Meliponina), is widely distributed and nests in varying substrates, becoming abundant in disturbed areas
From floral observations in the understory, we found that T. angustula visited 61 plant species, 45 of which had low visitation levels; 81% were found in Ilha Grande, 6% in the other island (Itacuruça) and 13% in the two mainland regions (Ariró and Tinguá)
The dense Atlantic Rainforest made the collection and identification the majority of plants foraged by T. angustula quite difficult
Summary
Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Apidae: Meliponina), is widely distributed and nests in varying substrates, becoming abundant in disturbed areas. They are generalists in their habits and their efficient pollination on the tropical flora is remarkable. Collecting pollen from beehives is used to verify the botanical origin of pollen loads (Louveaux et al 1970) These two methods can highlight the sources that stand out in the bee diet. They provide information to help the stingless bees keeper to organize a floral calendar and field tasks to better manage their beehives for sustainable use. The purpose of this study was to use two different methods to identify the plant species visited most frequently by T. angustula in tropical vegetation from four Brazilian Atlantic areas, describing their pollen morphologies, and to note the occurrence of these attractive plants
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
