During one year, monthly samples of pollen were taken from one colony of Apis mellifera and one colony of Trigona spinipes. A great number of pollen types was observed in each of the samples (approximately 40), although few sources were intensively visited each month. T. spinipes collected significantly from Eucalyptus spp., Aloe sp. and Archontophoenix sp., and A. mellifera visited mainly Eucalyptus spp., Tipuana speciosa, Caesalpinia peltophoroides, Mikania glomerata and Cecropia sp.

/pdf/pollen-harvest-by-africanized-apis-mellifera-and-trigona-577t8uliv6.pdf

Pollen harvest by africanized Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes in São Paulo botanical and ecological views

/pdf/interactions-on-floral-resources-between-the-africanized-2ji1kwnlwi.pdf

Interactions on floral resources between the Africanized honey bee Apis mellifera L and the native bee community (Hymenoptera : Apoidea) in a natural "cerrado" ecosystem in southeast Brazil

Byrsonima chrysophylla, known as "murici pitanga", is a shrubby species occurring in 'restinga'. Among its visitors, bees of the Centridini tribe as well as Xylocopini bees are frequently found. To detect which plant species have been used by the most frequent visitors, pollen loads from the back legs (n = 5) and also from natural nests of Centris caxiensis (n = 7) were treated by acetolysis. During flowering of Byrsonima chrysophylla, this plant species was the main pollen source used by bees. Comolia lythrarioides and Myrcia sylvatica were secondary pollen sources, Mouriri guianensis was a secondary oil and pollen source, while Anacardium microcarpum, Cuphea tenella, Matayba discolor and Phthirusa pyrifolia were important nectar sources at this time. The pollen detected in the samples probably adhered to the bee's body during nectar collection. The results show that the bee visitors do not mix pollen sources during the pollen-collecting flight, thus representing fidelity to Byrsonima chrysophylla flowers.

/pdf/cargas-polinicas-de-abelhas-polinizadoras-de-byrsonima-2ugw2sqkhz.pdf

Cargas polínicas de abelhas polinizadoras de Byrsonima chrysophylla Kunth. (Malpighiaceae): fidelidade e fontes alternativas de recursos florais

La necesidad de diversificar cultivos ha marcado el comienzo de otras alternativas agronomicas en nuestro pais tales como la produccion de manzano. Hace unos 6 anos se inicio en Colombia la plantacion de cultivares comerciales mejorados de cuya biologia y necesidades poco se sabe. Se planteo un estudio sobre la influencia de la polinizacion entomofila en la produccion de manzana Anna. El trabajo se desarrollo en un cultivo de manzano en el Municipio del Carmen de Viboral (Oriente Antioqueno), correspondiente a la zona de vida bosque humedo montano bajo (bh-MB), con temperatura promedio anual de 14-24°C, altura de 2200 msnm y precipitacion promedio anual de 1800 mm. Se propuso estimar el efecto de los insectos polinizadores en la produccion, comparando esta en ramas enjauladas excluidas de todos los visitantes florales, con la de ramas expuestas a estos durante la floracion, en arboles escogidos al azar. Se encontro que las ramas que habian sido visitadas por insectos producian significativamente mas manzanas (t = 2,95, para t0.05 con 18 g.l.), con mayor pesos (t=2,21, para t0.05 con 18 g.l.) y mayor numero de semillas (t=3.75, para t0.05 con 18 g.l.), que ramas sin acceso de visitantes florales. Una medicion de indices de diversidad mostro que la abeja melifera (Apis mellifera L.) constituyo el 76% de los visitantes florales y que la diversidad fue muy baja (λ=0.7439). Se concluyo que el manzano Anna requiere polinizacion entomofila, que la abeja melifera fue el polinizador mas importante y que se incremento significativamente la produccion de frutos bajo la influencia de esta especie de abeja. Se recomienda la introduccion al cultivo de Apis mellifera al momento de la floracion, para garantizar una produccion adecuada.

https://www.revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/refame/article/download/24064/24700

Producción del manzano (Malus sp. cv Anna) en el oriente Antioqueño con la abeja melífera, Apis mellifera L. (hymenoptera: apidae).

The presence of bees (Apis mellifera L.) in urban areas has increased in recent years due to environmental disturbances caused by humans. Bee migration to cities may provoke serious accidents, since some people present allergic reactions to their venoms. In Rio Claro city, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, the number of calls to the fire brigade for removal of bee swarms, and the number admissions in local hospitals due to bee stings were investigated during 2002 and 2003, and a correlation between these data and the average temperature, rainfall and relative humidity was found. The study period was divided into three phases according to the number of times that the fire brigade was called to remove swarms (263 times): January to July 2002 - 51 calls (19.39%); August 2002 to July 2003 - 140 calls (53.23%); and August to December 2003 - 72 calls (27.38%). A significant correlation among the number of calls, the local temperature and rainfall was detected. The number of accidents was not associated with environmental variables. Based on the current results, public activities for prevention of bee attacks may be developed to avoid unwanted contact between humans and these insects, and/or provide the appropriate management of the colonies.

/pdf/relationship-among-apis-mellifera-l-stings-swarming-and-65bnw2ikt3.pdf

M.R Martinho

Papers

A importancia das abelhas na polinizacao