"As abelhas sem ferrão de Belém e arredores (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE, MELIPONINA)"

Abstract

Native bees belong to the family Apidae and subtribe Meliponina. They are known as the "stingless bees", which gives the impression that they are defenseless. In the Amazon region, little is known about the richness of Meliponina, as well as the biology of many species. This situation is of considerable importance, since the deforestation of the rainforest in this region has occurred in a very intense and irrational way for these bees. This process may cause the extinction of many species, even before more information on the richness, biology and possible use of these bees has been accumulated (Oliveira, 1995). This work aims to generate and consolidate information on the fauna of stingless bees (Meliponina) in the region of Belém, refining the knowledge of the group in one of the best sampled areas of the eastern Amazon. Comparing the species, which appear in the Environmental Park of Belém and in the BosqueRodriguesAlvez, to see if there is any environmental influence between them. Honey bait was used every 50 meters along three 200-meter long trails. The complete circuit of 12 baits per 600-meter transect was walked throughout the morning, allowing 4 checks per bait point. The collections in the Bosque Rodrigues Alves were made on: 18/1/07; 08/3/07; 04/5/07. In the Environmental Park, collections were made on the following days: Area 1 (Mocambo) 6/11/06; 6/12/06; 20/12/06; 15/2/07; 22/2/07; 15/3/07. Area 2 (Proximities of Água Preta Lake) 11/28/06; 2/1/07; 3/29/07. Area 3 (APEG) 4/25/07. For all areas, a total of 10 species of 5 genera of Meliponina, plus Apis melifera, were obtained. Five species of stingless bees (3 genera) plus A. melifera were collected in the Bosque, while 6 species (5 genera) were collected in the Parque Ambiental (PAB). The genera found in both areas were Trigona, Partamona and Nannotrigona. The only species common to both areas was Trigona fulviventris. The genus with the highest species richness was Trigona (hypogea, fulviventris, pallens). Apis melifera did not occur in PAB, but was very abundant in Bosque together with Nannotrigona. On the other hand, T. fulviventris was collected in all three areas of the PAB and in the Bosque.