Ecologia de nidificação de abelhas do gênero Partamona (Hymenoptera: Apidae) na caatinga, Milagres, Bahia

Abstract

The species richness, abundance, nesting sites, spatial distribution pattern, density of available substrates and substrates used for nesting by Partamona species were studied in a restricted area of a tropical dry forest/ woodlands ecosystem called "arboreal caatinga" in Milagres, Bahia State, Brazil. Two species of the genus Partamona, occurred in the studied area, Partamona rustica (94.1%) and Partamona cupira (5.9%), both nested in arboreal termites nests of the Constrictotermes cyphergaster species. Other three species of arboreal termites' nests occurred in the area (Nasutitermes corniger, Nasutitermes macrocephalus and Microcerotermes sp.). The arboreal termites had nested mainly in "umburana" (Commiphora lepthophloeos). The nesting strategy of Partamona species consist in occupying preexisting cavities opened in arboreal termites nested by a parakeet called "jandaia" (Aratinga cactorum), for reproduction. After the birth of the younglings, the cavity is abandoned and after that a colony of Partamona bees occupies it and starts its nest construction, isolating it with mud and resin. Frequently these cavities are occupied by other inquilines. Neste estudo foi analisada a riqueza, a abundância, os sítios de nidificação, o padrão de distribuição espacial, a densidade dos sítios potenciais disponíveis e dos sítios nidificados pelas espécies de abelhas sem ferrão do gênero Partamona e dos termiteiros arbóreos nidificados pelas abelhas, em uma área restrita de caatinga arbórea, em Milagres, Bahia, Brasil. Duas espécies ocorreram em simpatria, Partamona rustica (94,1%) e Partamona cupira (5,9%), ambas nidificando em termiteiros arbóreos da espécie Constrictotermes cyphergaster. Outras três espécies de termiteiros arbóreos ocorreram na área (Nasutitermes corniger, Nasutitermes macrocephalus e Microcerotermes sp.). Os térmitas arbóreos nidificaram principalmente na umburana (Commiphora leptophloeos). As espécies de abelhas do gênero Partamona têm como estratégia de nidificação na caatinga utilizar cavidades pré-existentes que consistem em ocos abertos em termiteiros arbóreos pelo periquito jandaia (Aratinga cactorum), para reprodução. Após o nascimento dos filhotes, o oco é abandonado e em seguida uma colônia de abelhas do gênero Partamona constrói ali o seu ninho, ocupando-o e isolando-o com geoprópolis, sendo freqüente a ocupação destes ocos por outros inquilinos.Palavras-chave: abelha sem ferrão, Partamona, Aratinga cactorum, termiteiros.

Nesting Substrate Characteristics of Partamona seridoensis Pedro & Camargo (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Areas of Dry Forest in Brazil

“…Barreto and Castro (2007) also observed in an arboreal caatinga other Partamona species (P. rustica Pedro & Camargo, and P. cupira (Smith)) nesting in C. cyphergaster termitaria supported mainly by Commiphora leptophloeos, Psidium sp., and Poincianella pyramidalis (= Caesalpinia pyramidalis) trees. Commiphora leptophloeos and Poincianella pyramidalis were recorded among the most common and phytosociologically important tree species at Almas Farm and São João do Cariri (Barbosa et al 2007).…”

“…Partamona rustica and P. cupira were also observed nesting in C. cyphergaster termitaria (Barreto & Castro, 2007;Miranda et al, 2015). In addition, Barreto and Castro (2007) observed that the nesting cavities were initially constructed by a parakeet called "jandaia" or "gangarra" (Eupsittula cactorum (Kuhl) = Aratinga cactorum (Kuhl) for reproduction.…”

“…In addition, Barreto and Castro (2007) observed that the nesting cavities were initially constructed by a parakeet called "jandaia" or "gangarra" (Eupsittula cactorum (Kuhl) = Aratinga cactorum (Kuhl) for reproduction. Despite E. cactorum occurs in Almas Farm (Araujo et al, 2012) it was not observed their reproductive nesting behavior in C. cyphergaster termitaria.…”

“…There are few data on the ecology of species of Partamona (Barreto & Castro, 2007;Miranda et al, 2015), and in general the genetics of these species is poorly known (Fernandes et al, 2012). However, P. seridoensis gene variation and the degree of differentiation between two populations from Cariri region in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, have been studied studied through allozymic and microsatellite analyses (Fernandes et al, 2012).…”

Opportunistic Occupation of Nests of Microcerotermes spp. Silvestri (Termitidae, Termitinae) by Partamona seridoensis Camargo & Pedro (Apidae, Meliponini) in the Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest

“…To this day, colonies of P. seridoensis have been found mainly in arboreal nests of Constrictotermes cyphergaster Silvestri 1901 (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) (Lorenzon et al, 1999;Barreto & Castro, 2007;Fernandes, 2011;Miranda et al, 2015), despite the abundant occurrence of two other termite generawith the same nesting habit, Nasutitermes Dudley 1890 (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Microcerotermes Silvestri 1901 (Termitidae, Termitinae), in the Caatinga (Martius, 1999;Vasconcellos et al, 2010;Viana Junior et al, 2014). This fact suggests a tight relationship between P. seridoensis and C. cyphergaster.…”