Two common species dominate the species-rich Euglossine bee fauna of an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco, Brazil.

R Oliveira,C Schlindwein,C E Pinto

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.18513

R Oliveira, C Schlindwein + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.18513

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Abstract

Nowadays, the northern part of the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil is largely destroyed and forest remnants rarely exceed 100 ha. In a 118 ha forest fragment within a state nature reserve of Pernambuco (Reserva Ecológica Gurjaú), we surveyed the orchid bee fauna (Apidae, Euglossini) using eight different scent baits to attract males. Once a month during one year, the bees were actively collected with entomological nets, from November 2002 to October 2003 by two collectors. We collected 2,908 orchid bee males belonging to 23 species, one of the highest richness values of the Northern Atlantic Rainforest. Bees of only two species, Euglossa carolina (50%) and Eulaema nigrita (25%), which occurred throughout the year, accounted for three quarter of the collected individuals. Both species are typical for open or disturbed areas. Rainforest remnants like those of Gurjaú within the predominant sugar cane monocultures in the coastal plains of the northern Atlantic Rainforest play an important role in orchid bee conservation and maintenance of biodiversity.

Highlights

Orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini) are found exclusively in the Neotropics, where they play an important role as pollinators of numerous nectar, pollen, resin and perfume flowers in their ecosystems, especially in rainforest habitats (Dressler, 1982; Schlindwein, 2000; Roubik and Hanson, 2004)
Two thousand nine hundred and eight orchid bee males belonging to 23 species were collected during the 12 months of sampling at Gurjaú reserve
About 50% of the bees were of Euglossa carolina Nemésio, 2009 that together with Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier, 1841 were the most abundant species, representing 75% of the collected individuals (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini) are found exclusively in the Neotropics, where they play an important role as pollinators of numerous nectar, pollen, resin and perfume flowers in their ecosystems, especially in rainforest habitats (Dressler, 1982; Schlindwein, 2000; Roubik and Hanson, 2004). They are outstanding insects due to the vivid and brilliant metallic colors of most species, as well as to the conspicuous behaviour of the males, which collect fragrances from flowers of hundreds of plant species, especially orchids, and some other sources (Vogel, 1966; Dodson et al, 1969).

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