Levantamento faunístico de abelhas (Apidae: Meliponinae) da região metropolitana de Belém

Abstract

Despite all the richness of the Amazon region, the existing researches on bees in the state of Pará are few, and in Belém they are even rarer and sometimes outdated. The group of bees from the Meliponinae sub-family is the largest pollinator of native plant species, being important for reforestation projects in the regions. Thus, it is necessary to know which bees exist and how they live in the metropolitan region of Belém. Collections of adult individuals were made at various points in Belém during the year 2000, continuing through 2001, and a survey of all the collections made in the state of Pará and deposited in local collections was also carried out. This made it possible to compile a partial list of the bee species of Belém. Urbanized areas dominated by the action of man, there was a low diversity of bees in this environment in comparison to preserved areas which had a higher number of species diversity. This may have been caused by ecological barriers such as lack of food (nectar and pollen) and space for their nesting, caused by the reduction of vegetated spaces due to the intense need for construction of buildings and roads. These species need more complex and organized environmental conditions and, in general, urbanized areas do not offer these conditions. Despite the attempt to adapt to the urban environment, the group of bees has been declining, and this cannot happen because of their participation in the process of afforestation with native plants, which reaffirms their importance and the urgent need for a preservation plan for these bees.