Plant species used by Melipona eburnea bees in seasonally-flooded agroforestrysystems in the Peruvian Amazon

Delgado C.; Fine P.V.A.; Atías G. · Livestock Research for Rural Development (2022)

Resumen

From September 2018 to December 2019 and between July and November 2021 we conducted a study on the association of Meliponaeburnea bees with fruit-producing trees in seasonally flooded small agroforestry systems in the Peruvian Amazon. We found 40 plantspecies that were used by Melipona eburnea: 22 flowering species that were visited by the bees as a source for food, 15 species that wereused as nest habitat, and 8 species that were used by the bees for their resin. The plant species most visited as a food source wereEugenia stipitata with 45 (16.9% of total) individuals,Myrciara dubia with 37individuals (13.9% of total) and Inga edulis with 32 individuals (12% of total). The species most used as nesting habitat wereCalycophyllum spruceanum with 31 individuals (32% of total) Maquira coriacea with 15 individuals (15.5% of total), togetherrepresenting 47.5% of the total number of individuals. We recorded eight plant species that are used as a resin source: Croton lechleri,Protium apiculatum, Copaifera officinalis, Mangifera indica, Anacardium occidentale, Garcinia macrophylla and two species of Vismia.M. eburnea is an important bee species that depends on a large diversity of plants for its survival. An effective conservation strategy willhave to take into account all of the different uses of plants by the bees.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Perú