FAUNA DE ABELHAS EUGLOSSINI (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) EM DOIS FRAGMENTOS DE MATA ATLÂNTICA NO SUL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO

O objetivo principal desse trabalho foi conhecer a fauna de abelhas Euglossini em dois fragmentos de Mata Atlântica em dois Parques Estaduais localizadas no sul do Espírito Santo. Para a captura dos indivíduos, utilizou-se iscas de chumaços de algodão envolvidos em gaze e presos no galho a 1,5m de altura utilizando quatro iscas aromáticas: acetato de benzila, baunilha, eucaliptol e eugenol. Os indivíduos foram capturados com rede entomológica, mortas com acetato de etila e transferidas para tubos com o nome da essência e transportadas para o Laboratório de Zoologia do CCENS/UFES, preparadas e identificadas com auxilio de literatura. Foram realizadas coletas de setembro de 2014 a agosto de 2015. Foram coletados 232 indivíduos pertencentes a três gêneros. O gênero mais abundante foi Euglossa com 139 exemplares, seguido de Eulaema com 81 indivíduos e Eufriesea com 12 indivíduos. A essência mais atrativa foi eucaliptol (78,87%), que atraiu 183 machos, corroborando com a literatura, seguida por acetato de benzila (11,20%, n=26 machos), baunilha (7,32%, n=17), e eugenol (2,58%, n=6)

Composition and diversity of bees (Hymenoptera) attracted by Moericke traps in an agricultural area in Rio Claro, state of S\ue3o Paulo, Brasil

The composition and diversity of bees in an agricultural area in Rio Claro, state of São Paulo, Brazil, were studied from May 2003 to June 2004, using Moericke traps. The collection site, an area with 58.08 hectares, is characterized by grain production and direct planting, with 70% of the surrounding area planted with sugar cane. During the study, 456 bees were collected, distributed among 20 genera, pertaining to the families Andrenidae (4.8%), Apidae (40.8%) and Halictidae (54.4%). Specimens of genera Dialictus (38%) and Diadasia (30%) predominated in this area. The species diversity, assessed using the Shannon and Simpson indices, were H’=1.88 and 1/ D= 4.15, respectively, and the Evenness index was 0.61

Composição e diversidade de abelhas (Hymenoptera) coletadas por armadilhas Moericke em uma área agrícola de Rio Claro, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Foram estudadas a composição e diversidade de abelhas em uma área agrícola no município de Rio Claro, Estado de São Paulo, de maio de 2003 a junho de 2004, utilizando armadilha de Moericke. O local de coleta, uma área com 58,08 hectares, caracteriza-se pela produção de grãos e a prática de plantio direto, sendo que 70% da área de entorno é utilizada para o plantio de cana-de-açúcar. Foram coletadas 456 abelhas distribuídas em 20 gêneros, pertencentes às famílias Andrenidae (4,8%), Apidae (40,8%) e Halictidae (54,4%). Espécimes dos gêneros Dialictus (38%) e Diadasia (30%) foram predominantes nesta área. A diversidade de espécies avaliadas pelos índices de Shannon e Simpson foram H =1,88 e 1/D= 4.15, respectivamente, e o índice de Equitatibilidade de 0,61.The composition and diversity of bees in an agricultural area in Rio Claro, state of São Paulo, Brazil, were studied from May 2003 to June 2004, using Moericke traps. The collection site, an area with 58.08 hectares, is characterized by grain production and direct planting, with 70% of the surrounding area planted with sugar cane. During the study, 456 bees were collected, distributed among 20 genera, pertaining to the families Andrenidae (4.8%), Apidae (40.8%) and Halictidae (54.4%). Specimens of genera Dialictus (38%) and Diadasia (30%) predominated in this area. The species diversity, assessed using the Shannon and Simpson indices, were H =1.88 and 1/ D= 4.15, respectively, and the Evenness index was 0.61

TIPOS POLÍNICOS COLETADOS POR Tetragonisca angustula (LATREILLE, 1811) EM UM FRAGMENTO DE FLORESTA ATLÂNTICA NO ESPÍRITO SANTO

A identificação da dieta de abelhas é fundamental para o conhecimento da biologia e da ecologia destes insetos. Aqui apresentamos a identificação dos tipos polínicos coletados por Tetragonisca angustula em um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica no Espírito Santo. As amostras de pólen foram coletadas durante 12 meses no Parque Estadual da Cachoeira da Fumaça (PECF). Os indivíduos estudados foram capturados com rede entomológica e as pelotas de pólen foram removidas de suas corbículas. Para identificação dos tipos polínicos, os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, montados em lâminas e analisados em microscopia de luz (ML). Foram identificados 32 tipos polínicos pertencentes a 16 famílias de angiospermas. Fabaceae e Myrtaceae apresentaram a maior riqueza de tipos polínicos, com cinco tipos cada. A maior diversidade de tipos polínicos foi encontrada nos meses de setembro e outubro. A diversidade de famílias botânicas visitadas por T. angustula confirma o hábito generalista desta espécie e permite verificar que o PECF é um importante refúgio para esta espécie de abelha nativa

Visitor Bees of Yellow Passion Fruit (Passifloraceae) in Urban Cultivation

The yellow passion fruit, Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa, belonging to the Passifloraceae family, is a climbing plant that has long branches with a grooved stem. It is cultivated in different regions of Brazil. The fruit can be consumed fresh or in the form of juices, among products, and is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. The yellow passion fruit plant has self-incompatible reproductive structures, so the flowers need pollinators to carry the pollen from one flower to another for fertilization, generating fruits. The crop thus depends on effective pollinators, without which growers must resort to artificial pollination. Among the effective pollinators are large and robust bee species belonging to the genera Xylocopa, Centris, Epicharis, Eulaema and Bombus. This study sought to identify the species of native bees visiting yellow passion fruit plants growing in an area of 20m2 located in an urban area (Conduru, district of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, south of Espírito Santo). The surrounding areas contain residences with few spaces for home and/or public gardens, and also by a small strip of adjacent pasture. Observations were carried out in October 2021, when the passion fruit plants were in bloom. Strategic points were set within the area where two observers simultaneously identified and counted the visiting bees. The observations were carried out between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., three times a week, totaling a sampling effort of 36 hours. Five species of bees were identified, distributed in four tribes and one family: Xylocopa frontalis (Olivier, 1789) and Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier, 1841, for Xylocopini, Apidae; Epicharis flava Friese, 1900, for Centridini, Apidae; Bombus morio (Swederus, 1787), for Bombini, Apidae; and Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793), for Meliponini, Apidae. Xylocopa frontalis was the most abundant species, with eight individuals, followed by Xylocopa grisescens, with five individuals, Bombus morio and Trigona spinipes with three individuals each, and Epicharis flava, with two individuals. The bees with the highest frequency of visits to the flowers were Xylocopa frontalis, with 55% of all visits, followed by Xylocopa grisescens, with 25%, Bombus morio, with 10%, and Epicharis flava and Trigona spinipes, with 5% each. The richness and abundance of bees in the studied area was low, which is probably related to the absence of nearby green areas, since the crop area us mainly surrounded by residences. The presence of bumblebees in passion fruit crops depends on some factors, mainly the availability of resources close to the cultivation environments, since these bees have some ecological requirements, such as the presence of dry trunks and branches to build their nests. For native bees in general, and for effective pollinators of passion fruit, it is essential to offer food resources (nectar, pollen, oils and resins) provided by the adjacent flora (forested environments, spontaneous plants, gardens, among others) found nearby cultivation areas, as they are supplementary resources in the periods when the crops are not in bloom, thus contributing to maintain the bee community in the areas of interest. Therefore, preserving green areas, as well as enriching the surroundings of cultivation areas with plants that offer resources, can provide benefits to bees and contribute to crop pollination

Native Bees Associated With Crotalaria (Fabaceae) In A Pasture Area

The genus Crotalaria, belonging to the botanical family Fabaceae, is represented by plants with strong performance in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, being recommended especially for areas that need green manuring. Crotalaria ochroleuca is one of the species of this group used the most, since it an easy to plant, and produces abundant forage. It promotes erosion control as well as in soil enrichment, and is used as green manure in several crops: beans, cotton, sugarcane and various vegetables, among others. It is a bushy, erect plant, with an annual cycle, with racemose inflorescences having yellow flowers. Additionally, it is an important plant for bees, by providing food resources such as nectar and pollen. The visitation of bees to the inflorescences contributes to the pollination of the plant and the consequent production of seeds. The purpose of this study was to identify the species of native bees visiting the inflorescences of Crotalaria ochroleuca in a pasture area. The study was carried out between April 2020 and February 2021 in a pasture area, located in Rive, district of Alegre, south of Espírito Santo state. Two monthly collections were performed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., totaling a sampling effort of 66 hours. The samplings were carried out using the transect method with capture of flowers with an entomological net, where the inflorescences were observed for 10 minutes and the visiting bees were collected, transferred to a killing flask containing ethyl acetate. In the laboratory, the bees were sorted, dried, identified, labeled, and deposited with the Caparaó Museum of Zoology, at Federal Institute of Espírito Santo – Alegre Campus. Ninety-two specimens were collected, representing seven species of bees, distributed in three tribes grouped into two families: Xylocopa frontalis (Olivier, 1789); Xylocopa grisescens Lepeletier, 1841; Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith, 1854; Xylocopa hirsutissima Maidl, 1912; belonging to Xylocopini, Apidae; Epanthidium tigrinum (Schrottky, 1905), belonging to Anthidiini, Megachilidae; Megachile sp.1 Latreille, 1802 and Megachile sp.2 Latreille, 1802, belonging to Megachilini, Megachilidae. Xylocopa frontalis was the most abundant species, accounting for 40% of all individuals collected, followed by Megachile sp.1 with 25%, Xylocopa grisescens with 14%, Xylocopa nigrocincta with 9%, Megachile sp.2 with 6%, and Xylocopa hirsutissima and Epanthidium tigrinum, with 3% each. Four species were found for the genus Xylocopa, and it was represented by large and robust bees, which have generalist feeding behavior, visiting several botanical species, including plants of agricultural interest. These bees nest, especially in tree trunks and dry branches. They are usually solitary, but some species may present some level of sociability. Although, in the study area there were few target trees for Xylocopa bees to use for nesting, the species richness may have been influenced by the proximity to a forest fragment, with the two areas being approximately 300 meters apart. Female Megachilidae bees, in addition to collecting pollen grains, also use floral fragments to build their nests, and resins to maintain the nests and close the brood cells. They can nest in branches, preexisting cavities in wood and holes in the ground. In fact, some species can build their nests in rock cavities. Bees of the genus Xylocopa had a higher rate of visitation to Crotalaria inflorescences, about 70%, between 10:00 and 12:00, while the bees of the genera Megachile and Epanthidium were better represented, about 63%, between 12:00 and 13:00. Crotalaria ochroleuca is a botanical species exploited as a food source by native bees, which can be indicated for planting and rational management in agricultural environments and/or in environmental recovery areas