Interaction between visiting bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) and flowers of Ludwigia elegans (Camb.) hara (Onagraceae) during the year in two different areas in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

This study was designed to characterize the interactions between Ludwigia elegans flowers and visiting bees during two years in two areas 200 km apart, at the same latitude (approximately 22º48'S) but at different altitudes (Alumínio, 600 m, and Campos do Jordão, 1500 m), in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. As these flowers open simultaneously in the morning and lose their petals by sunset, interaction with bees occurs only during the photophase. Flowers of L. elegans were mainly visited by bees, the most frequent species being: Tetraglossula anthracina (Michener, 1989) (Colletidae), Rhophitulus sp. (Andrenidae), and Pseudagapostemon spp. (Halictidae), all considered specialized bees for collecting pollen and nectar from these flowers, as well as the generalist bee Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Apidae). The specialist bees were temporally adjusted to the opening schedule of the flower, which occurs primarily in the morning, but shows a circannual variation. T. anthracina appears in both study areas, but only between December and April. The annual activity patterns of these specialist bees are synchronized to the phenology of L. elegans. Photoperiod and temperature cycles are suggested as the main synchronizers of both bees and plants.

Diversity of bees and their interaction networks with Ludwigia sericea (Cambessides) H. Hara and Ludwigia peruviana (L.) H. Hara (Onagraceae) flowers in a swamp area in the Brazilian Atlantic Foresteae) flowers in Atlantic Forest Area in Southern Brazil

“…Both the diversity and the richness of the species of bees visiting the flowers of the genus Ludwigia in the Guarapuava region were higher than those recorded in the Southeast and Midwest of Brazil (Gimenes, 2003;Steiner et al, 2010;Ruim et al, 2011;Carvalho et al, 2012). In addition, in these studies, the richness of solitary species was higher than social species.…”

“…In the São Paulo state region, L. elegans (Camb.) Hara flowered practically the whole year (except in the cold months from August to October), with its flowering peak in February and March (Gimenes, 2003;Gimenes et al, 1993). Ludwigia tomentosa also flowered almost the whole year (except in the very dry months from June to August) in the Mato Grosso do Sul state region (Pott & Pott, 2000).…”

“…This species was also very frequent in flowers of L. elegans (Gimenes, 1997(Gimenes, , 2002(Gimenes, , 2003 in São Paulo state and in the flowers of Ludwigia tomentosa (Cambess.) (Carvalho et al, 2012) in Mato Grosso do Sul state.…”

“…Their flowers produce pollen grains in large tetrads (diameter > 100 µm), with the presence of viscin threads (Hesse, 1984), and only specialist bees with long rigid hairs and few branched in their scopa, and with rapid body and leg movements can be the potencial pollinators of these plants (Cruden, 1981;Gimenes, 1997). Schlindwein (2004), Michener (1979Michener ( , 2000, Gimenes et al (1993Gimenes et al ( , 1996 and Gimenes (2003) observed an association between plants of the family Onagraceae, more specifically the genus Ludwigia, and oligoletic bees in the south and southeast of Brazil.…”

Plants used by Megachile (Moureapis) sp. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in the provisioning of their nests

“…According to this author, despite the aggressiveness of Apis mellifera towards Diadasina distincta, the species normally foraged at different times. Gimenes (2003) observed a high frequency of Tetraglossula anthracina (Michener, 1989), Rhophitulus sp. and Pseudagapostemon spp.…”