Nesting biology of Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith in southern Brazil (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Centridini)

Abstract

A total of 67 nests of Centris tarsata were obtained from wood trap-nests of different diameters, consisting of a linear series of brood cells built with sand mixed with oil. This species showed a preference for open habitats, since it occurred only in Swamp and Grassland areas and has never been found in the Araucaria forest. Nesting activity was bigger during the hot season, especially in December and January. The Sex ratio was of 1.48:1 (females/males), significantly different from 1:1. The females were larger than the males and these showed no dimorphism. Males were produced in the outermost cells and females in the innermost cells. C. tarsata presented a direct development without diapause in larval stage. They overwinter as adults. Development time was similar for males and females. Natural enemies are Bombyliidae Mesocheira bicolor, Coelioxys sp. and Meloidae.

Bee Diversity and Solanum didymum (Solanaceae) Flower–Visitor Network in an Atlantic Forest Fragment in Southern Brazil

“…(42.4%) were the primary pollen sources for C. tarsata in Guarapuava [52]. No pollen of S. dydimum was found, because this bee nested only in grassland areas [50,51], and, as previously commented, S. dydimum occurs only in the forest areas in this park.…”

“…Another oligolectic bee species that occurs in Guarapuava and has only been recorded from Brazil [49] is Centris tarsata Smith [50,51]. This species uses exclusively Solanum pollen to feed offspring.…”

Contribuição da polinização entomófila para a produção de frutos de aceroleira

“…Nessa época de final de outono e inverno, o fotoperíodo menor, as temperaturas mais baixas e o menor volume de chuvas na região Sudeste implicam na interrupção da produção de flores. Tais fatores contribuem para que a planta permaneça em estágio vegetativo durante os meses nos quais as condições são desfavoráveis (Gomes et al 2001, Carpentieri--Pípolo et al 2008. Porém, quando é feita a irrigação dos pomares, nessa época, é possível a obtenção de até duas floradas.…”

“…Em estudo sobre a produção de acerola com introdução de ninhos-armadilha, no Estado do Ceará, verificou-se aumento de 186 % na produção de frutos, com 1.798 kg ha -1 a mais de frutos em áreas nas quais os ninhos foram introduzidos, em comparação a áreas sem a introdução desses ninhos (Magalhães & Freitas 2013). Para a obtenção de uma boa produção de acerola, faz-se necessário o bom uso e manejo do solo, para que sejam preservados os locais de nidificação e ninhos já estabelecidos dos polinizadores potenciais, visto que, com exceção da espécie C. (Hemisiella) tarsata, todas as demais espécies polinizadoras potenciais da aceroleira nidificam no solo (Coville et al 1983, Raw 1984, Gottsberger et al 1988, Vinson & Frankie 1988, Silva et al 2001, Aguiar & Gaglianone 2003, Aguiar & Garófalo 2004, Aguiar et al 2005, Gaglianone 2005, Buschini & Wolff 2006, Rego et al 2006, Mendes & Rego 2007). …”

Nesting habits of Centris (Hemisiella) dichrootricha (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Northern Cerrado of Brazil

“…Floral oil is another resource used to build nests, and it functions as a coating material for internal and external surfaces of the cells of the nests (Neff & Simpson, 1981). In addition, species such as C. analis, C. bicornuta, C. tarsata, C. trigonoides and C. vittata use the oil to coat the nest plug (Vinson et al, 1996;Jesus & Garófalo, 2000; Aguiar & Garó-falo, 2004;Aguiar, Garófalo, & Almeida, 2006) to prevent attacks by natural enemies (Vinson & Frankie, 2000; Jesus & Garofalo, 2000).In the Hemisiella subgenus, the nest cells are constructed horizontally (C. tarsata) or positioned vertically in a linear series (C. nitida and C. trigonoides) (Silva, Viana, & Neves, 2001;Aguiar et al, 2006;Buschini & Wolff, 2006;Mendes & Rêgo, 2007;Vinson, Frankie & Cônsoli, 2010). In C. tarsata nests, two parallel rows of cells may be found (Mendes & Rêgo, 2007;Mesquita, Vilhena, & Augusto, 2009).…”