Plants Used by Bees as Pollen Sources in the Brazilian “Cerrado”

Bee flora is the set of plants that supply food to bees in a given region. The recognition of the plants used by bees for the collection of pollen in order to enable adequate handling by the beekeeper and the improvement of the bee pasture are considered of great importance for a good beekeeping. Some bee pollen samples were obtained monthly during one year from pollen collectors installed in five beehives in two different areas (“cerradão” and “cerrado” sensu stricto) in Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. It was noted that species of the Asteraceae family were intensely visited by the Apis mellifera bees, indicating the importance of them for an eventual bee flora recomposition. Alternativelly bees visited nearby areas, using mainly Eucalyptus sp. and Citrus sp. for the collection of pollen

Análise faunística de himenópteros visitantes florais em fragmento de cerradão em Itirapina, SP.

Bees are considered one of the most efficient pollinators. Therefore, they have indisputable role in the plants reproduction, since they increase the quality and quantity of fruit and seeds, and thus they help the ecosystems maintenance. Cerrado is one of the most affected ecosystems due to the growth of human activities, drastically reducing its biodiversity. The faunistic analysis identifies the species and the size of the populations, and can also indicate the degree of environmental impact on a particular area. Surveys on flower-visiting hymenoptera in a “cerradão” area, with 40ha, in the Experimental Station of Itiparina (SP), were conducted every fifteen days from March 2003 to February 2004. From 181 insects collected, the Apidae family was represented by the largest number of species and individuals. The species Apis mellifera (55.8%), Trigona spinipes (14.4%) and Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) sp. (8.3%) were the most prevalent in the area. Among the bees species collected, 30.8% were classified as sociable and 69.2% as solitary. Considering all hymenoptera collected, 59.7% preferred the morning period and 40.3% the afternoon period for foraging and/or visiting. The Diversity index (Shannon-Wiener) H was 1.6933, V(H) = 0.0123 and Uniformity index E = 0.5652, following pattern found in other areas of cerrado.As abelhas são consideradas os mais eficientes polinizadores. Desse modo, possuem papel indiscutível na reprodução das plantas, aumento da qualidade e quantidade de frutos e sementes e, conseqüentemente, na manutenção dos ecossistemas. O cerrado é um dos ecossistemas mais afetados pelo crescimento das atividades humanas, diminuindo drasticamente sua biodiversidade. A análise faunística além de identificar as espécies e o tamanho das populações, também pode indicar o grau de impacto ambiental numa determinada área. O levantamento dos himenópteros visitantes florais foi realizado quinzenalmente, no período de março de 2003 a fevereiro de 2004, em área de cerradão, com aproximadamente 40 ha, na Estação Experimental de Itirapina, SP. Foram coletados 181 indivíduos, e a família Apidae apresentou maior número de espécies e abundância de indivíduos. As abelhas, Apis mellifera com 55,8%, seguida de Trigona spinipes com 14,4% e Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) sp. com 8,3% foram as predominantes. Dentre as abelhas coletadas, 30,8% das espécies são sociais e 69,2% das espécies são solitárias. Do total de himenópteros coletados, 59,7% preferiram o período da manhã e 40,3% o período da tarde para forrageamento e/ou visita. O índice de diversidade de espécies (H) (Shannon-Wiener) foi 1,6933, a variância (H) foi 0,0123 e o índice de uniformidade (E) foi 0,5652, seguindo padrão encontrado em outras áreas de cerrado

Faunistic analysis of flower-visiting hymenoptera in cerrad\ue3o fragment in Itirapina, SP

As abelhas s\ue3o consideradas os mais eficientes polinizadores. Desse modo, possuem papel indiscut\uedvel na reprodu\ue7\ue3o das plantas, aumento da qualidade e quantidade de frutos e sementes e, conseq\ufcentemente, na manuten\ue7\ue3o dos ecossistemas. O cerrado \ue9 um dos ecossistemas mais afetados pelo crescimento das atividades humanas, diminuindo drasticamente sua biodiversidade. A an\ue1lise faun\uedstica al\ue9m de identificar as esp\ue9cies e o tamanho das popula\ue7\uf5es, tamb\ue9m pode indicar o grau de impacto ambiental numa determinada \ue1rea. O levantamento dos himen\uf3pteros visitantes florais foi realizado quinzenalmente, no per\uedodo de mar\ue7o de 2003 a fevereiro de 2004, em \ue1rea de cerrad\ue3o, com aproximadamente 40 ha, na Esta\ue7\ue3o Experimental de Itirapina, SP. Foram coletados 181 indiv\uedduos, e a fam\uedlia Apidae apresentou maior n\ufamero de esp\ue9cies e abund\ue2ncia de indiv\uedduos. As abelhas, Apis mellifera com 55,8%, seguida de Trigona spinipes com 14,4% e Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) sp. com 8,3% foram as predominantes. Dentre as abelhas coletadas, 30,8% das esp\ue9cies s\ue3o sociais e 69,2% das esp\ue9cies s\ue3o solit\ue1rias. Do total de himen\uf3pteros coletados, 59,7% preferiram o per\uedodo da manh\ue3 e 40,3% o per\uedodo da tarde para forrageamento e/ou visita. O \uedndice de diversidade de esp\ue9cies (H) (Shannon-Wiener) foi 1,6933, a vari\ue2ncia (H) foi 0,0123 e o \uedndice de uniformidade (E) foi 0,5652, seguindo padr\ue3o encontrado em outras \ue1reas de cerrado.Bees are considered one of the most efficient pollinators. Therefore, they have indisputable role in the plants reproduction, since they increase the quality and quantity of fruit and seeds, and thus they help the ecosystems maintenance. Cerrado is one of the most affected ecosystems due to the growth of human activities, drastically reducing its biodiversity. The faunistic analysis identifies the species and the size of the populations, and can also indicate the degree of environmental impact on a particular area. Surveys on flower-visiting hymenoptera in a "cerrad\ue3o" area, with 40ha, in the Experimental Station of Itiparina (SP), were conducted every fifteen days from March 2003 to February 2004. From 181 insects collected, the Apidae family was represented by the largest number of species and individuals. The species Apis mellifera (55.8%), Trigona spinipes (14.4%) and Exomalopsis (Exomalopsis) sp. (8.3%) were the most prevalent in the area. Among the bees species collected, 30.8% were classified as sociable and 69.2% as solitary. Considering all hymenoptera collected, 59.7% preferred the morning period and 40.3% the afternoon period for foraging and/or visiting. The Diversity index (Shannon-Wiener) H was 1.6933, V(H) = 0.0123 and Uniformity index E = 0.5652, following pattern found in other areas of cerrado

Food collection behavior of Apis mellifera L., 1758 (Hymenoptera, apidae) in five eucalyptus species

Ten flowers of each of the Eucalyptus species E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis, E. grandis, E. tereticornis and E. urophylla were marked with the objective of determining the type of food (pollen or nectar) that the bees collected at three different hours (08:00, 11:00, and 16:00) daily during the blossoming period. The number of bees visiting each flower was counted at each hour during five minutes of observation. On the first and second blossoming days, E. camaldulensis was the species least visited by the bees for pollen collection at all three hours of observation, when compared with the other four species, which were equally visited. On the other hand, on the first blossoming day at 08:00 h, E. camaldulensis was the most visited species for nectar collection. It is concluded that at the beginning of the blossoming period in the majority of Eucalyptus species studied, the food most collected by the bees is pollen, while from the third blossoming day onward it is nectar. At 08:00 h the food most collected is pollen, while at 11:00 and 16:00 h it shifts to nectar. This information is important for the success of apiculture in certain regions, especially so in the case of migratory beekeeping

Influence of Pollen on the Development of Africanized Bee Colonies (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

This study aimed to assess the importance of quality and quantity of pollen on the development of colonies in different seasons. The field experiment was conducted at the Apiary of the Department of Entomology and Acarology of Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, using five beehives of A. mellifera. In order to characterize the quality of pollen, researchers considered measures of total dry mass (g) and the physical-chemical and pollen composition of pollen load and bee bread samples. The development of hives was assessed according to the area covered by pollen, honey, and brood population in the hive (cm²), as well as fluctuating asymmetry of worker bee wings. Spearman’s correlation was calculated among the assessed parameters. The value of ether extract of pollen loads was the only component that was related to the development of hives, its value increased as the area occupied by pollen in the hive decreased (-0.3200*), and as the difference of the number of hamuli of right and left hind wings increased (0.3317*). There was a positive relationship between the wealth (0.3150*) and evenness (0.3019*) of pollen composition and the size of brood population inside the hive. It was concluded that the development of the colony, mainly considering the area occupied by brood, is more successful with increased quantity, wealth, and evenness of collected pollen

Composition of the honey of samples originated from Jataí bees (Tetragonisca angustula latreille, 1811)

As características físico-químicas do mel produzido pelas abelhas sem ferrão ainda são pouco conhecidas, principalmente devido à elevada diversidade da flora apícola e à baixa produção que é inerente a estas espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as características físico-químicas de 20 amostras de mel de Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula), do município de Piracicaba, estado de São Paulo, contribuindo para o estabelecimento de um padrão de qualidade do mel das abelhas sem ferrão brasileiras, possibilitando o controle da fraude deste produto. Desta maneira, as seguintes análises foram realizadas: açúcares totais, açúcares redutores, sacarose aparente, umidade, hidroximetilfurfural, proteínas, cinzas, pH, acidez, índice de formol, condutividade elétrica, cor, atividade diastásica e atividade de água. Os resultados demonstram que a legislação atual, referente ao mel de Apis mellifera, não é adequada para todos os caracteres analisados, reforçando a necessidade de um padrão próprio para os méis de meliponíneos.The knowledge regarding the physicochemical characteristics of the honey produced by stingless bees is still limited, mainly due to the high diversity of the floral resources and the low production that is inherent to these species. This research deals with the physicochemical characteristics of 20 samples of Tetragonisca angustula honey, from the municipality of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, contributing to the establishment of a quality standard for the honey produced by Brazilian stingless bees making possible the control of this product. Thus, the following parameters were determined: total sugars, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, moisture content, hydroxymethylfurfural, proteins, ashes, pH, acidity, formol index, electrical conductivity, color, diastase activity, and water activity. The results indicated that the Brazilian standard rules, referring to the Apis mellifera honey, are not adequate to all parameters analyzed reinforcing the need of a establishment of a proper standard for the honey from meliponids

Detection of metals by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in pollen collected from a fragment of the atlantic forest in Piracicaba/SP

Detection techniques of trace elements have high costs for routine analysis while differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) has low operational costs and few structural requirements. This technique was considered a good alternative for pollen analysis. In the analyses, Zinc, Copper and Lead showed concentrations higher than the threshold established for human daily intake of food; however, Cadmium concentrations did not exceed the limits. The high concentrations found may be explained by the geographical locality of the apiary, which is located near the main road to access the city and a water and sewage treatment plant. In addition, other anthropogenic processes, namely agricultural, industrial and residential activities may have influenced. The technique of voltammetry can be considered a good alternative for pollen routine analysis, providing accuracy at lower costs. The study provides information about the contamination of the matrix of bee pollen

Physicochemical characteristics of organic honey samples of africanized honeybees from Paraná River islands.

This research was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical composition of organic honey in Paraná River islands, in Porto Brasílio, State of Paraná. Honey was harvested directly from super of the colonies in three apiaries spread in the Floresta and Laranjeira Islands, from August 2005 to August 2006. Twenty-four samples of organic honey produced by Africanized honeybees were evaluated. The following parameters were analyzed: pH, acidity, formol index, hydroxymethylfurfural, ashes, color, electric conductivity and moisture. Three replications per sample were performed for laboratorial analysis, giving the means and standard deviation. Most honey samples were in conformity with the Normative Instruction 11 from October 20, 2000. However, 4.17% were not in accordance with the moisture standards, 8.33% showed high concentrations of hydroxymethylfurfural, thus, totalizing 12.50% of non-complying samples. Nevertheless, 87.50% of the analyzed honey samples are within the standards, being characterized as an organic product of excellent quality, with good commercialization perspectives in the market

Multivariate analysis based on the physicochemical characteristics of samples of honey produced by Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from the northern coast of Bahia state, Brazil

This research was carried out to determine how honey samples are grouped based on physicochemical characteristics. A total of 36 honey samples, collected from January of 1999 to June of 2000, on the northern coast of Bahia State, were evaluated. with regard to humidity, color, protein, pH, acidity, formol index, electrical conductivity, ash, diastase number, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), total sugar, reducing sugars, sucrose, and types of pollen. The results indicate that HMF, reducing sugar and total sugars are the characteristics that most influenced the grouping. Two plant genera, Eucalyptus and Mimosa, were observed as predominant bee plants in the region

Scientific collaboration for early detection of invaders results in a significant update on estimated range: lessons from Stenothoe georgiana Bynum & Fox 1977

Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxa are taxonomically challenging, such as small-sized ma-rine organisms. The present study highlights the relevance of scientific cooperation in the early detection of the invader amphipod Stenothoe georgiana. Originally described from North Carolina (USA), the species was recently found in Chile and the Western Mediterranean. Here, we provide the first record of the species in Macaronesia, Atlantic coasts of continental Europe, North Africa and Australia, and extend its known distribution along the Mediterranean coast. Just like other small crustaceans, shipping (both ballast water and recreational boating) and aquaculture are probably the main vectors of introduction and secondary spread for this amphipod species. This case of S. georgiana sheds light on the importance of promoting taxonomical knowledge, and building multidisciplinary networks of experts that ensure an effective diessemination of alien species information. We also encourage the implementation of standardized monitoring methodologies to facilitate early detection of small mobile invaders.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España y fondos FEDER de la Unión Europea. CGL2017-82739-PFondos FEDER: proyecto AS-MAS - M2.1.2/I/032/2011 a través del Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors (COMPETE)National Portuguese Funds a través de FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology). UID/BIA/50027/2013 y POCI-01-0145-FED-ER-00682