Bees as pollinators in Brazil - USP

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Antonini & Martins (2002) used nest traps
in Cerrado without any result, in an area
where they found 46 nests of Melipona
quadrifasciata. Beekeepers sometimes mention
that this bee species nests in abandoned
nests of Apis mellifera.
In Brazil, recently stingless bee’s keepers
are using pet bottles as traps nests. In a beekeeping
meeting this year in Rio Grande do
Sul (III Encontro dos Meliponicultores) some of
them reported that Tetragonisca angustula
use these pet bottles. A deeper research on
this subject is urgent, and is suggested as a
recommendation.
Recommendations
Key stingless bees species for large scale
breeding in Brazil
The selection of some stingless bees’ species
for large scale breeding is needed. They
should be effective as pollinators, easy to
maintain in strong rational hives that could
be transported, easy to multiply, with a high
range of temperature and humidity for flight
activity. Species should be selected for greenhouses
pollination as well as for pollination
in open field.
Due to the large size of Brazilian territory,
the selection should be regionally determined,
to facilitate breeding and colony trading. In
table 1 there are indications of stingless bee
species already known as good pollinators.
Our first selection should include:
1.Tetragonisca angustula. This species has a
wide geographical range in Latin America.
Very common in several habitats, including
cities, it frequently swarms, accepting artificial
traps for establishing new nests. More
data on queen and males rearing in natural
nests, on queen rearing in vitro under laboratory
conditions, and controlled reproduc-
tion of the queens under laboratory conditions
are needed. The minimum population
of bees necessary to begin a new nest, as
well as their age composition must be evaluated.
This bee also produces a honey that
is considered as medicine, and how to conserve
it should be investigated. At this
moment, splitting colonies in two is possible,
but this is not enough to allow their
large use as pollinators.
2.Melipona quadrifasciata. The queen fertilization
under controlled conditions was
done in M. quadrifasciata by Camargo
(1972), that verified to be possible to put a
gyne and a male in a box and they immediately
copulate. This result opens conditions
for genetic manipulations of colo -
nies. Besides, this bee can provide buzz pollination.
Nevertheless the same result was
not obtained with other Melipona species
until now.
3.Melipona subnitida. In Northeast Brazil
(dry regions, Caatinga) this bee species is
bred for its honey, very appreciated by local
people. Until now, their role as pollinator
was studied in sweet pepper under greenhouse,
with good results (Cruz, et al., 2005)
4.Melipona scutellaris. This species is
already used as a very good honey producer
in Northeast Brazil, and bred by successfully
by beekeepers. Domesticated and well
adapted in hives, this is one of the promising
species to be used as pollinators where
they occur.
5.Nannotrigona spp. The use of Nan no -
trigona in greenhouses was shown to be
effective in pollination. Very common in
urban areas, and with a wide geographical
range, must be studied concerning biology
and reproduction. The important results
from Cauich, et al., 2004, in Mexico, showing
that they are as effective in tomato pollination
as other pollination treatments gives