Monthly corbicular samples derived from weekly collections of Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta (Apidae: Meliponini) were analyzed alongside a single honey sample between January to December 2012. The botanical families Arecaceae, Melastomataceae and Solanaceae were the most representative in the corbicular load samples, with five temporary specialization events (>90%) being detected for representatives of Melastomataceae and Solanaceae. Furthermore, Melastomataceae also exhibited a greater contribution of pollen types in the honey samples, particularly because of the occurrence of Miconia type (87.17%), followed by Solanaceae, represented by types Solanum stramonifolium (5.00%) and Solanum aculeatissimum (2.50%). The low richness of pollen types in the corbicular pollen samples (n = 16) in this study suggests that M. interrupta may act as a specialist due to the low availability of apiculture resources in terra-firme environments, where intraspecific competition might affect not only the maintenance of these colonies in this environment but also their honey production.
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1 April 2018
Pollen Niche of Melipona (Melikerria) Interrupta (Apidae: Meliponini) Bred in a Meliponary in a Terra-Firme Forest in the Central Amazon
Marcos Goncalves Ferreira,
Maria Lucia Absy
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Palynology
Vol. 42 • No. 2
May 2018
Vol. 42 • No. 2
May 2018
AMAZON
pollen
stingless bees
terra-firme
trophic resources