Abelhas (hymenoptera: apidae: euglossinae) no ambiente urbano de Belém, Pará: abordagem através de sistema geográfico de informações (sig)

Abstract

The euglossine bees, known as "orchid bees", are distributed exclusively in the Neotropical region, showing the greatest diversity in the warm and humid equatorial zones. Of the five genera (Euglossa, Eufriesea, Eulaema, Aglae and Exaerete) 187 species are described. Males collect aromatic substances on their highly modified hind tibiae, possibly as part of their sexual behavior, mainly on flowers of Orchidaceae, but also on other flower species, while acting as important pollen vectors of many plant species. Their integument is shiny, often metallic, the tongue extremely long and the flight fast and long. The objective of this work was to determine which species of Euglossinae bees inhabit the Metropolitan Region of Belém, in order to obtain a recognition of its biodiversity. The data used were from collections made in the region (MPEG-Campus, MPEG-PZB, Ceasa and PAB) and external points (Benevides and Embrapa Moju), being the collections made in the rainy and dry seasons. The specimens were mounted, labeled and identified for analysis of the material for abundance and species richness. As a result, 228 specimens were obtained, collected in four genera, with 10 different species. Overall abundance and richness were observed to be low. The sampling points showed a low abundance of species and the abundant species were distinct for each point within the metropolitan region of Belém. It can also be observed that in the rainy and dry seasons, in general, the abundance was similar, following a pattern in both seasons. A higher species richness was found during the dry season in the points of the metropolitan region and it is very important to take into account the sampling in different seasons. No characteristics were found that could indicate the group as a good biological bioindicator, despite previous proposals in this direction.