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

Abstract

Nests of Centris tarsata Smith, 1874 were obtained from trap-nests in areas of dry semi-deciduous forest (Baixa Grande) and caatinga (Ipirá), in the State of Bahia. Nesting occurred in bamboo canes and in tubes of black cardboard with 5.8 cm (= small tube) and 10.5 cm (= large tube) in length and 0.6 and 0.8 cm in diameter, respectively. In both areas C. tarsata nested during the wet season producing four generations in Baixa Grande and three generations in Ipirá. The immatures of one generation underwent diapause at both sites. The bees constructed their nests with a mixture of sand and oil. In general, the cells were elongated and arranged in linear series with its opening pointing towards the nest entrance. Completed nests had two to three cells in small tubes, one to seven cells in large tubes, and two to 13 cells in bamboo canes. The nest plug resembled an uncompleted cell and was externally covered with oil. The cells were provisioned with pollen, oil, and nectar. Nests were parasitized by Mesocheira bicolor (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and other not identify bee species.<br>Ninhos de Centris tarsata Smith, 1874 foram obtidos através da utilização de ninhos-armadilha, em áreas de floresta estacional semi-decídua (Baixa Grande) e de caatinga (Ipirá), no Estado da Bahia. A nidificação ocorreu em gomos de bambus e em tubos de cartolina preta, estes com comprimentos de 5,8 cm (= tubos pequenos) e 10,5 cm (= tubos grandes), e diâmetro de 0,6 e 0,8 cm, respectivamente. Em ambas as áreas C. tarsata nidificou durante a estação úmida, produzindo quatro gerações anuais em Baixa Grande e três em Ipirá. Os imaturos de uma das gerações passaram por diapausa em ambos os locais. As abelhas construíram seus ninhos com uma mistura de areia e óleo. Em geral, as células foram alongadas e arranjadas em série linear, com sua abertura dirigida para a entrada do ninho. Os ninhos completados tinham de duas a três células nos tubos pequenos, de uma a sete células nos tubos grandes e de duas a 13 nos gomos de bambu. A parede de fechamento do ninho lembrava uma célula incompleta e era coberta externamente com óleo. As células foram aprovisionadas com pólen, óleo e néctar. Os ninhos foram parasitados por Mesocheira bicolor (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) e por outra espécie de abelha não identificada

Trap-nesting bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in areas of dry semideciduous forest and caatinga, Bahia, Brazil

“…Fluctuations in annual frequencies of nesting, as occurred in this study, have also been reported by other authors (FRANKIE et al 1993, MORATO et al 1999, PEREIRA et al 1999, AGUIAR & GARÓFALO 2004 working with trap-nests. FRANKIE et al (1998) suggested that such fluctuations would be a regular characteristic of cavity-nesting bee species, and that different species would be affected differently by climatic changes between years.…”

“…Although this species showed low nesting frequency in Baixa Grande, it was the second most abundant species at Guariba Biological Reserva (AGUIAR & MARTINS 2002). It is important to observe that while C. tarsata is a predominant species in some areas of the northeastern part of Brazil , AGUIAR 2002, AGUIAR & MARTINS 2002, AGUIAR & GARÓFALO 2004, C. analis is, usually, the most abundant Centris species in forest fragments of the southeastern part (CAMILLO et al 1995, GARÓFALO 2000.…”

“…Similar observations were reported by ALVES- DOS-SANTOS et al (2002), for T. diversipes, andCAMILLO (2000), for Tetrapedia curvitarsis Friese 1899, nesting in the state of São Paulo. Some of the progeny of C. tarsata also undergo diapause in at least one of the generations during the year (AGUIAR & GARÓFALO 2004). The occurrence of diapause in mature larva and pupa can be viewed as a survival strategy during unfavourable environment periods, and can reduce the risk of local population extinctions (MARTINS et al 2001).…”

“…Some of the studies were made to obtain information on the nesting biology (KROMBEIN 1967, STRICKLER et al 1996, PEREIRA et al 1999, MORATO et al 1999, JESUS & GARÓFALO 2000, AGUIAR & GARÓFALO 2004, ZILLIKENS & STEINER 2004, whereas other provide information on population dynamics (JAYASINGH & FREEMAN 1980), preferred habitats (FRANKIE et al 1988, GATHMANN et al 1994, reproductive biology of parasites which hosts nest in trap-nests (SCOTT et al 2000, GAZOLA & GARÓFALO 2003 and composition and seasonal patterns of communities (CAMILLO et al 1995, GARÓFALO 2000, AGUIAR & MARTINS, 2002ALVES-DOS-SANTOS 2003). More recently, trap-nesting bees and wasps have been used in researches designed to evaluate the habitat quality (FRANKIE et al 1998, TSCHARNTKE et al 1998, the effects of habitat fragmentation and of the landscape complexity on community composition and predator-prey interactions (MORATO & CAMPOS 2000, MORATO 2001, STEFFAN-DEWENTER 2002, KRUESS & TSCHARNTKE 2002 asil.…”

Nesting Behavior of Centris (Hemisiella) vittata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in an area of the cerrado in the northeast of the State of Maranhão, Brazil

“…The tribe includes species that excavate simple or compound nests in fl at ground or in vertical banks (Vinson & Frankin 1988, Batra & Schuster 1977, Rozen & Buchmann 1990, Aguiar & Gaglianone 2003. Other species build their nests in holes of wood, such as tree trunks, inside termitaria or use preexisting cavities, such as cells abandoned by wasps or other bees (Coville et al 1983, Silva et al 2001, Aguiar et al 2006, Ramos et al 2007a, old beetle boring (Michener & Lange 1958) and trap-nests (Garófalo et al 1989, Pereira et al 1999, Aguiar & Garófalo 2004, Mendes & Rêgo 2007.These bees are considered effective pollinators for a variety of plant species, particularly "oil plants" such as Malpighiaceae, Krameriaceae and Scrophulariaceae (Vogel 1974, Neff & Simpson 1981, Buchmann 1987, Rêgo & Albuquerque 1989.Due to the essential ecological role played by these bees in a wide range of fl oral communities, studies of the biology of these species are important for conservational efforts to be developed for solitary bees and the plant species they pollinate. The aim of this study was to provide data on the nesting behavior of Centris vittata Lepeletier, a species distributed in several Brazilian ecosystems.…”