Descrição biológica e estrutural de ninhos de três espécies de “abelhas-sem-ferrão” amazônicas (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Abstract

The bionomic study of stingless bee nests can help ensure that the management of species with potential for Meliponiculture is carried out in accordance with the biological needs of the different species to be raised. Considering that these bees are of extreme ecological, economic and cultural importance, and the practice of raising them - Meliponiculture - has been growing in recent years, it is essential to know the internal structures of the nests as well as the space occupied by them and their relationships. Given the initiatives to breed species in the Amazon that are not yet known bionomically, and with the aim of generating data about these species, this study recorded information on nests of Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta Latreille, 1811 (05 nests), Tetragona goettei (Friese, 1900) (03) and Duckeola ghilianii (Spinola, 1853) (04) kept in modular boxes (trash bin, nest, super nest and super) of meliponaries in Manaus-AM and Iranduba-AM. We described the composition and internal structure of the nests of the bee species M. interrupta, T. goettei and D. ghilianii kept in modular boxes and verified the relationship between the observed population size (by direct count) and estimated from the mathematical formulas proposed by Aidar, Gaspar and Zilse-Campos-Paiva for immatures and by Ihering for the total population of immatures and adults. We estimated the production capacity of honey, pollen and propolis/geopropolis of each species. It was possible to observe that the nests followed a basic constitution pattern (entrance, entrance tunnel, batume, brood cells, honey and pollen storage pots, pillars, wax reservoirs and involucrum). For the relationships between the real population size (by direct count) of immatures and estimated for the three species from the mathematical formulas, it was observed that Aidar's formula was more sensitive to the estimation accuracy. Likewise, there is a relationship between adults observed and those estimated by Ihering's proposal. For the estimates of honey, pollen and propolis production, good production was observed in both periods; honey and pollen production were higher in the dry period for M. interrupta and geopropolis in the rainy period. T. goettei produced more honey in the rainy period and pollen and propolis in the dry period, being in this study the species that presented more populous nests and with the largest quantity of honey and pollen reserves. In D. ghilianii, honey production was higher in the dry period, pollen and propolis in the rainy period. The species proved to be productive and adaptable to rearing in modular boxes.