In this study, we compare orchid bee communities surveyed in four forest remnants of the Atlantic Forest and four reforested areas characterized by seasonal semi-deciduous forest vegetation in different successional stages (mature and secondary vegetation), located in southern Brazil. The sizes of forest remnants and reforested areas varied from 32.1 to 583.9 ha and from 11.3 to 33.3 ha, respectively. All reforested areas were located near one forest remnant. During samplings, totaling nine per study area, euglossine males were attracted to eight scent baits and captured with bait trap and entomological nets. Each forest remnant and its respective reforested area were sampled simultaneously by two collectors. We collected 435 males belonging to nine species of orchid bees distributed in four genera. The number of individuals and species did not differ significantly between different areas, except for a reforested area (size 33.3 ha), which was located far from its respective forest remnant. Our findings also revealed an apparent association between an orchid bee species (Euglossa annectans Dressler 1982) and the most preserved area surveyed in our study, suggesting that this bee is a potential indicator of good habitat quality in recuperating or preserved areas. Our results suggest that reforested habitats located near forest remnants have a higher probability of having reinstated their euglossine communities.

Euglossine bees were sampled in three different phytophysiognomies [Rainforest (RF), Mixed Forest (MF) and Seasonal Semi-Deciduous Forest (SF)] of Brazilian Atlantic Forest (AF). In this study, euglossine males attracted to eight synthetic scent baits were captured with an entomological net. Results revealed different euglossine bee assemblages associated with three AF ecosystems surveyed. A higher richness (14 spp.) of euglossines was found in the RF, followed by SF (seven spp.) and MF (three spp.) forests. Surprisingly, despite the short distance between MF and SF and that both forest remnants were located in the same studied region and under the same climatic conditions, the species richness detected was lower in MF than in SF. The present study contribute to greater knowledge of euglossine assemblages in remnants of Atlantic Forest areas composed of MF, SF and RF, helping to further understand how the structure of these bee assemblages can vary significantly at the local and/or regional level. In addition, our findings also represent a contribution to the understanding to the orchid bee biogeography.

Edited by Fernando B Noll -UNESP Neotropical Entomology 38(5):610-615 (2009) ABSTRACT -Eufriesea violacea (Blanchard) is a very seasonal euglossine species, more frequently found in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil. A number of studies have revealed large variations in the abundance of males of this species present in Atlantic Forest remnants throughout both regions. In this paper, we report variations in the abundance of E. violacea males sampled in several forest patches of different sizes (ranging from 10 to 580 ha), and we propose that this species is possibly sensitive to the reduction in size of forest remnants. Surveys were carried out in nine forest remnants of Atlantic rainforest located in northern Paraná State, southern Brazil. Male euglossine bees were collected with an entomological net when visiting scent-baits, between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, from October to December of 2001 and 2006. A total of 360 E. violacea males were captured in the nine forest fragments studied. The number of bees attracted to scent baits in each forest patch varied from zero to 261. A very high association (r = 0.993) was detected between the forest patch size and the visitation rate of E. violacea males at different sites, with the highest mean number of males visiting baits/sampling (43.5) being observed for bees from the largest forest remnant. Although alternative hypothesis should not be discharged for the decline in the abundance or absence of E. violacea in small forest patches, our results indicate that populations of this euglossine species need larger forest areas for existing.

-The incidence of diploid males among 1457 individuals of different populations of six euglossine bee species (Eufriesea violacea , Eulaema cingulata , Euglossa annectans , Euglossa iopoecila , Euglossa pleosticta and Euglossa truncata ) was investigated with microsatellite markers. Bees were surveyed in Atlantic Forest fragments showing different sizes and degrees of human interference. Our analyses revealed that, although the frequencies of diploid males remained below 10 % for five out of six species studied, the frequencies of these males in three populations of Eg. annectans were above 15.0 %. For this species, while the average estimate of diploid males was around 11.0 %, the highest percentage (27 %) of such males was found for the population from an island. Our findings indicate that the frequency of diploid males can vary substantially among species and this fact should be taking into consideration in studies and conservation actions involving different euglossine bees. microsatellites / Euglossini / euglossine bees / Euglossa annectans / forest fragments

This is a first description of a gynandromorph of an orchid bee, Euglossa iopoecila Dressier (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini). The specimen was collected at a chemical bait (eugenol) in an Atlantic Forest remnant in southern Brazil and shows a partial, bilateral asymmetry, with the right and left halves of the head displaying predominantly female and male characteristics, respectively. Except for the three left legs that show male morphology and a tuft of hairs detected only in the left side of second metasomal sternum (S2), the mesosoma and the metasoma exhibit female characteristics. The gynandromorph described here belongs to the mosaic or mixed category, because male and female characteristics are distributed patchily throughout the body of this individual. The main external morphological characteristics of the gynander are left and right antennae with 12 articles (like females), a mesosoma presenting a scutellar tuft (absent in males of this species), and a metasoma with six terga and six sterna that tapers to a point. Bilateral asymmetry in both metatibia is also noticeable: a normal corbicula is present in the right hind tibia, whereas the left hindleg brings a conspicuous deformation next to the tibial slit.

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Euglossa fimbriata is a euglossine species widely distributed in Brazil and occurring primarily in Atlantic Forest remnants. In this study, the genetic mitochondrial structure of E. fimbriata from six Atlantic Forest fragments was studied by RFLP analysis of three PCR-amplified mtDNA gene segments (16S, COI-COII, and cyt b). Ten composite haplotypes were identified, six of which were exclusive and represented singleton mitotypes. Low haplotype diversity (0.085-0.289) and nucleotide diversity (0.000-0.002) were detected within samples. AMOVA partitioned 91.13% of the overall genetic variation within samples and 8.87% (phi(st) = 0.089; P < 0.05) among samples. Pairwise comparisons indicated high levels of differentiation among some pairs of samples (phi(st) = 0.161-0.218; P < 0.05). These high levels indicate that these populations of E. fimbriata, despite their highly fragmented landscape, apparently have not suffered loss of genetic variation, suggesting that this particular population is not currently endangered.