Abstract
For the first time the association between Partamona seridoensis and Constrictotermes cyphergaster is described. Partamona seridoensis occurs in xeric areas of Northeastern Brazil, and it is a termitophile species as its nests are built in active and inactive arboreal termite nests of the species C. cyphergaster. This study aimed to verify the characteristics of the nesting substrate used by P. seridoensis in two areas of dry forest (caatinga) in Cariri region, Paraíba state. It has been found that the vertical distribution of termites that contained colonies of P. seridoensis varied from 10 cm to 3.60 m, while the height of the nest entrance varied from 20 cm to 3.70 m. Commiphora leptophloeos, popularly known as imburana, was the support tree of 22 (43.1%) from 51 observed termite nests that harbored bee colonies. Most (44; 86.2%) of the host termites colonies were active. Most of the colonies showed the nest entrances not directed to the east/southeast. All colonies located were housed in large termite nests, whose volumes exceed 30 liters. In the two areas surveyed, frequently the entrances of the nests were directed to other nearby colonies, suggesting a parental relationship that should be further investigated.
Highlights
Stingless bees (Meliponini) comprise more than 500 described species and possibly 100 more as yet undescribed (Michener, 2013), the real number is unknown because there are many cryptic species (Michener, 2007)
The objective of this study was to improve our understanding of the nesting substrate characteristics of P. seridoensis in areas of dry forest in Northeastern Brazil with emphasis on size, volume, height and substrate of the termite nests, interaction between the bees and termites and the orientation of the nest entrances
The P. seridoensis colonies identified inside the arboreal termite nests of C. cyphergaster were counted, georeferenced and had these information recorded: the presence or absence of termites; the tree species supporting the termite nest; the height of termite nest and of the colony entrance, the colony entrance position; the termite nest size, measuring with a wooden ruler the height of the termite nest, the largest diameter, and the smallest diameter
Summary
Stingless bees (Meliponini) comprise more than 500 described species and possibly 100 more as yet undescribed (Michener, 2013), the real number is unknown because there are many cryptic species (Michener, 2007). The genus Partamona is a Neotropical stingless bee comprising 33 described species, many of which are cryptic, with aggressive bees that nest in a wide variety of substrates, and many species are obligatory termitophiles (Camargo & Pedro, 2003; Pedro & Camargo, 2003). Because they present similar morphological traits, nesting behavior and the nest entrance structure are useful traits for species identification (Camargo & Pedro, 2003)
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