Bees as pollinators in Brazil - USP

Group 3
Abstract
Pollinating agents, especially insects, are clearly
essential for agricultural production. The
central point of discussions here are the importance,
the possibilities, and the management
of native bees, both solitary and stingless bees,
as well as honey bees, as pollinators. The participants
were divided in subgroups and so the
results here presented.
Aim
The establishment of standard methodologies
for managing native bees (solitary and social)
as well as Africanized honey bees as pollinators
of economically and locally important
agricultural crops. To assess the biodiversity of
local bees important for pollination and to
evaluate their status; to define the basic procedures
to be developed for rearing bees on a
scale to allow their use as pollinators in agriculture;
and to improve capacity building and
training, at all levels.
Expected Product
• Updated report on knowledge about
native and Africanized bees and their use
as pollinators.
• A list of recommendations for study cases
during the PDF B project in Brazil.
• Manual of protocols, according to the
species, for rearing and managing native
and Africanized bees for greenhouse and
field pollination.
• Protocols for using native and Africanized
bees to pollinate crops defined for study cases.
• A guide for sanitary care of migratory activities
(transportation of bees from one area to
another) for pollination purposes.
Discussions
Workshop I 53
Bee Management for Pollination Purposes
The group was divided into three subgroups,
according to the number of participants.
Subgroup 1: Africanized bees rearing and
management to be used as pollinators.
Subgroup 2: stingless bees rearing and
management to be used as pollinators.
Subgroup 3: solitary and bumble bees rearing
and management to be used as pollinators
The whole group discussed together at
the end of each session, for one hour. Each
subgroup was composed by, at least one person
familiar with the crop, one person familiar
with pollination biology, and one person familiar
with bee surveys. These discussions sections
were divided according to the following
aspects: state of art, perspective of the use of
native and Africanized bees for pollination