Honey pollen spectra of two species of stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the pollen types present in the honey of Melipona fasciculata and Melipona subnitida in a Restinga area (plant communities under a marine influence) and identify pollen grains that belonged to plants with nectar resouces. In total, 56 pollen types were found in the honey samples of the two bee species studied, with a large number of representatives from the Fabaceae and Myrtaceae families. Melipona subnitida honey had higher pollen richness, diversity and evenness than M. fasciculata honey. Many of the pollen types identified in the samples were considered nectarless, but 28 types belonged to plants that produce nectar. The main nectar-producing specie found was Humiria balsamifera, particularly in M. fasciculata honey. Other important sources of nectar were Chrysobalanus icaco, Protium heptaphyllum and Coccoloba. Our results are vital for conservation and management programmes because the maintenance of social bee populations depends upon constant resource collection.