External activity of the stingless bee Melipona fasciculata (Smith) kept in the Brazilian Cerrado

Depending on the temperature and relative humidity of the air the external activity of the bees can vary in different times of the year and times of the day. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of external activities of the bee Melipona fasciculata in different seasons and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of apicultural research 2022-05, Vol.61 (3), p.429-434
Main Authors: Xavier de Freitas, Paulo Vitor Divino, da Silva, Igor Eli, Faquinello, Patrícia, Zanata, Rodrigo Alves, Arnhold, Emanuel, e Silva-Neto, Carlos de Melo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
foraging
native bees
relative humidity
stingless bee
temperature
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Summary:Depending on the temperature and relative humidity of the air the external activity of the bees can vary in different times of the year and times of the day. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of external activities of the bee Melipona fasciculata in different seasons and periods of the day. Four colonies were used for the study and evaluated for 12 months. The evaluated variables were inputs such as nectar/water inflow, entry with pollen, resin/clay inflow or unloaded bees exit and debris outflow. Evaluations were performed in the interval between 6 am and 6 pm of each month divided into three periods of four hours. The bee M. fasciculata performs inflow and outflow activity throughout the year and in all evaluated periods. Season and period did not influence resin/clay collection. The collection of pollen and nectar/water for the interior of the colony was greater in the spring. At the same time, the output of unloaded bee was also higher in the spring. In winter, spring, and autumn, pollen collection was highest between 10 am and 2 pm. Regardless of the season, the nectar/water collection by the bees was concentrated between 10 am and 6 pm. The exit of the colony with debris was influenced by the season and period of the day. With this study, it was possible to identify that the external activity of the M. fasciculata occurs in all seasons and periods of the day, however, these can be influenced by the increase or decrease of the daily activities.
ISSN:0021-8839
2078-6913
DOI:10.1080/00218839.2020.1745436