Exploração de recursos tróficos por Melipona (Michmelia) seminigra merrillae Cockerell, 1919 e Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta Latreille, 1811 (Apidae: Meliponini) criadas em meliponários na Amazônia Central

Abstract

Trophic resources exploited by Melipona (Michmelia) seminigra merrillae Cockerell, 1919 and Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta Latreille, 1811 (Apidae: Meliponini) reared in the Central Amazon were determined. Samples were collected in three different local: meliponary of Aldenora Queiroz Lima, located in the várzea area of Manaus; meliponary of Maria do Socorro B. Antella, on terra firme area, located on the AM-010, Km 37 of Manaus and meliponary of Ana Margareth Pereira, located in the Santana farm in the banks of the Solimões River, Manacapuru-AM. In the várzea area of Manaus, samples of pollen loads and honey of workers of M. seminigra merrillae and M. interrupta were obtained during the period from november/11 to october/12. A total of 103 pollen types were recorded, distributed among 36 botanical families, among which, 33 pollen types were exclusively observed in the corbicular pollen samples, 36 types in the honey samples and 34 common types in both bee products. In this study, the most important plant families in the várzea area were: Fabaceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae and Solanaceae. The high values for the overlapping index due to large proportions highlighted by interactions graphs indicate a common preference by resource groups considered "keys" to maintaining the colonies. On the other hand, in the terra firme area, for purposes of comparison, pollen loads and honey samples of workers of M. interrupta were collected during the period from january/12 to december/12. A total of 28 pollen types were identified, distributed in 16 botanical families, being only eight exclusive types in corbicular samples, 12 in honey samples and eight common types in both products. The results of pollen analysis in this study indicate that the most representative families were: Arecaceae, Fabaceae/Mimosoideae, Melastomataceae and Solanaceae. The low values of diversity of pollen types show a deficiency in the availability and density of resources in terra firme environment when compared to the várzea environment for the same studied bee. In a studies carried out in another várzea area on the banks of the Solimões River Manacapuru- AM, an adapted protocol for collecting and processing samples of residue post-emergence of M. interrupta was applied. A total of 10 samples were studied and 32 pollen types were determined, distributed among 19 botanical families being the Fabaceae/Mimosoideae and Melastomataceae the most representative families. In addition to the viability of this study on samples from post-emergence residue, was possible to observe that Mimosa pudica pollen grains still had the inner content, which suggests that due to their size (too small) may not be consumed by the larvae despite being intensively exploited by the workers. From these results, we consider what pasture of stingless bee in the várzea environment, presents better trophic conditions for the creation and maintenance of these species.