Algumas plantas visitadas para obtenção de pólen por operárias de Melipona seminigra merrillae em Manaus

Abstract

During one year, in Manaus, the loads in the corbicula of 267 bees Melipona seminigra (from 13 to 27 per month) were studied. Of these, 104 (39%) had latex, resin or mud that the workers mix with wax in order to save energy; one corbicula load of mud or resin substitutes for 12 to 15 loads of nectar if this nectar is to be transformed into wax. Ninety-nine bees (60.7%) brought pollen of a single species of plant, 38 (23.3%) of two species of plants and 26 (15.9%) of three or more types of pollen. Among pollen types 19 families and 25 genera were represented. Only 13 types of pollen were identifyed to species: Bellucia imperialis, Bixa orellana, Cordia lanata, Croton lanjouwensis, Eschweilera fracta, Inga edulis, Mauritia flexuosa, Mimosa pudica, Protium heptaphyllum, Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Tapirira guianensis, Vernonia scabra, Warszewiczia coccinea.