Cavity-nesting bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) in a semi-deciduous Atlantic forest fragment immersed in a matrix of agricultural land

Interaction Network and Niche Analysis of Natural Enemy Communities and their Host Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in fragments of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest

“…However, differently of the Tetrapediini parasites and as observed in this study, Coelioxys exhibited a less specialized behavior, parasitizing nests of others bee groups, as the species of the genus Centris. This association with nests of the oil-collecting bees has also been reported by other authors such as Morato et al (1999), Aguiar and Martins (2002), Gazola andGarófalo (2009), Araujo et al (2018), Oliveira and Gonçalves (2017), Rocha-Filho et al (2017) and Araujo et al (2018).…”

“…According to Michener (2007), cleptoparasite bees usually attack nests of related lineages. This association between host-cleptoparasite would explain the attacks of the species of the genus Coelioxoides for the nests of their sister genus Tetrapedia, as had been reported by several authors (Aguiar et al, 2005;Gazola & Garófalo, 2009;Rocha-Filho et al, 2017).…”

“…Although the sampling effort, years and phytophysiognomy were different, the communities of SCF and EEC were structured by similar groups of natural enemies and host bees. Likewise, other authors reported similar composition in distinct Brazilian areas (Aguiar & Martins, 2002;Gazola & Garófalo, 2009;Mesquita & Augusto, 2011;Oliveira & Gonçalves, 2017;Rocha-Filho et al, 2017;Araújo et al, 2018), which evidences a closed relationship between these parasites species and their host bees. Evolutionary history and phylogenetic diversity are factors that strongly influence these ecological interactions (Michener, 2007;Staab et al, 2016;Andreazzi et al, 2017).…”

“…Bottom-up factors mainly act as density-independent factors that limit population growth while top-down factors, i.e., natural enemies, can regulate population dynamics by positive density-dependent parasitism or predation (Berryman, 2001). Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil RESEARCH ARTICLE -BEES Therefore, natural enemies are important components associated with populations comprising the bee communities, responsible for many adult and immature deaths (Rocha-Filho et al, 2017). Despite this, while mutualistic interactions between plant-pollinator have received much attention, the antagonistic interaction between natural enemies and their host bees remain poorly investigated.…”

Low trophic niche overlap among trap-nesting bee species (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in a semideciduous forest fragment

“…Exotic plants such as the mass-flowering coffee tree can compete with native plant species for resources and contribute to a decrease in the diversity of pollinators within an area (Zuefle et al 2008). Nonetheless, a study conducted in that Ecological Station on the community of cavity-nesting bees and wasps revealed a high diversity of species (Rocha-Filho et al 2017) in spite of the threatened conservation status of that forest fragment (Tabanez et al 2005). In light of the above, we aimed to study the use of floral resources by the trap-nesting bee species sampled in that forest fragment.…”