Elder Ferreira Morato

Efeitos da fragmentação florestal sobre vespas e abelhas solitárias em uma área da Amazônia Central

The effects of forest fragmentation on tree-hole nesting solitary wasps and bees were investigated at a site 90 km north of Manaus, Brazil. Wasp and bee faunas were monitored in continuous terra firme forest, forest fragments of 1, 10 and 100 ha, natural gaps in continuous forest and deforested areas. These habitats were studied in terms of abundance, richness, diversity and similarity. The wasps and bees were monitored monthly during June 1988 through June 1990 by means of a trap-nests technique. A total of 1529 nests of wasps of 24 species and 405 nests of bees of 14 species were collected. The number of species of wasps and bees varied little among the habitats. The genus Trypoxylon Latreille, 1796 (Sphecidae) accounted for 79% of wasp nests and Centris Fabricius, 1804 (Anthophoridae) for 56% of bee nests. Wasps showed an overall preference for cleared areas and fragments of 1 ha, whereas bees showed an overall preference for continuous forest and natural gaps. Nevertheless, some species of wasps showed a preference for nesting in continuous forest and some bees a preference for deforested areas. Species found in deforested areas also nested in small size forest fragments. This shows that species occurring predominantly in cleared areas can also colonize small forest fragments. The diversity of wasps and bees was greater in continuous forest. The composition of wasp and bee faunas of continuous forest was different from that of altered habitats. The similarity between the natural gaps and cleared areas was the smallest. The data suggest that the forest adapted bees are more sensitive to habitai fragmentation than the corresponding species of wasps. It is concluded that the preexisting cavity nesting solitary wasp and bee communities were altered by the forest fragmentation. However, it appears that at least in part, the natural variation in continuous forest could be responsible for the resulte obtained from this study.

An overview of proximate factors affecting the nesting behavior of solitary wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) in preexisting cavities in wood

Guilds of Aculeate solitary wasps and bees that nest in preexisting cavities in wood are important components of terrestrial ecosystems because they engage in several ecological interactions (e.g. predation and pollination) with other species of plants and animals. Spatial and temporal variations in richness and abundance of solitary wasps and bees can be related to changes in environmental structure and in the diversity of other groups of organisms. The nesting period of these Aculeata is their most critical life cycle stage. Females of solitary wasp and bee species invest relatively more time constructing and provisioning their nests than do females of social species. Differently from species that nest in the soil or construct exposed nests, the main factors affecting the reproductive success of solitary species nesting in preexisting wood holes are still unknown. Our objective is to provide an overview of the role of proximate causes of nesting failure or success among solitary wasps and bees (Aculeata), for designing effective conservation and management strategies for these Hymenoptera.

Utilização de armadilhas para a captura de machos de Euglossini (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)

The use of a commercial fruit fly trap, baited with atractive compounds, for the collection of male euglossine bees is described. Some of the preliminary results obtained are presented.

Fauna de Euglossina (Hymenoptera: Apidae) da Amazônia Sul-Ocidental, Acre, Brasil

ABSTRACT Male orchid bees were collected between December 2005 and September 2006 in 11 forest areas of different sizes in the region of rio Branco, acre, Southwestern amazonia, Brazil. the bees were attracted by 6 aromatic compounds and collected by insect nets and scent baited traps. a total of 3,675 males of Euglossina in 4 genera and 36 species were collected. Eulaema cingulata (Fabricius) was the most common (24.6%), followed by Eulaema meriana (olivier) (14.6%), Euglossa amazonica Dressler (10.5%), Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier (10.5%) and Eulaema pseudocingulata (oliveira) (7.2%). cineole was the scent that attracted the greatest number of individuals (23.8%) and methyl salicylate the greatest number of species (28) for both methods of sampling. thirty one bees of 9 species with pollinar orchid attached to their bodies were collected. the accumulative number of species stabilized after the 48 th collection. Few species were abundant; the great majority were represented by less than 50 bees. the lack of standardized sample protocols limited very much the conclusions derived from comparisons among the majority of studies on Euglossina assemblages. However, the results presented here suggest that the State of acre is very rich in those bees compared to other regions.

Avaliação ecológica rápida da fauna de vespas (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) do Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Acre, Brasil

The Serra do Divisor National Park (PNSD), located at the northwest of Acre State, Amazonia, is considered an area of great biodiversity. The question of considering insects in conservation programs. Solitary and social wasps are important components of the terrestrial ecosystems due to their position in trophic webs. The present study aimed at making a rapid ecological assessment of the wasps from the PNSD in order to support the elaboration of a conservation and management plan for that park. The insects were sampled in 12 sites located in eight forest types by Malaise traps that operated in each for 24 hours, totaling 288 hours of sampling. The results on the families Chalcididae, Eucharitidae, Evaniidae, Mutillidae, Pompilidae, Crabronidae and Vespidae are presented here. On the whole, 366 wasps were collected representing 40 genera and 85 species. The genera Ephuta (Mutillidae), Trypoxylon (Crabronidae) and Conura (Chalcididae) were the most specious. The sites situated at the northern region of the PNSD, the intangible and primitive zones, were the most species rich. Some collected species were considered rare and about 65% of species were exclusive to only one site. This means that the samples have little faunal similarity.

Diversidade de espécies e densidade de ninhos de abelhas sociais sem ferrão (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae) em floresta de terra firme na Amazônia central

Stingless bees were collected between 1984 and 1990 in continuous forest, forest fragments and cleared areas 90 Km north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Several methods were employed. a total of 54 species of 21 genera were collected including two undescribed species of Plebeia Schwarz, 1938. The most abundant genera were Trigona Jurine, 1807; Melipona Illiger, 1806; Partamona Schwarz, 1939 and Tetragona Lepeletier, 1825. The most abundant species were Trigona crassipes (Fabricius, 1793) and T. fulviventris Guerin, 1835. Fruit fly traps baited with fragrances for euglossine bees showed to be an useful method for stingless bee collection too. The study area showed a great richness in relation to other regions of the world. However the density of nests found from a 100ha area of continuous forest were low (1 nest/6.67ha). The consequences of deforestation on stingless bees populations and of the decrease of these on the forest conservation are also discussed.

Orchid Bees of forest fragments in Southwestern Amazonia

Bees of the tribe Euglossini are known as orchid-bees. In general, areas with more vegetation cover have greater abundance and diversity of these bees. This study investigated the effects of forest fragmentation on assemblages of the euglossine bees in the region of Rio Branco municipality, State of Acre, and surrounding areas. Ten forest fragments with varying sizes were selected for the study and were classified as urban or rural. The bees were sampled between December 2005 and August 2006. A total of 3,675 bees in 36 species and 4 genera were collected. In general abundance and richness of bees did not differ statistically between urban and rural fragments. The index of edge in fragments was a predictor of richness and diversity of bees. The connectivity estimated was also an adequate predictor for richness. Fragments with greater similarity in relation to their landscape structure were also more similar in relation to faunal composition.

Check list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the eastern Acre, Amazon, Brazil

The ant fauna of state of Acre, Brazilian Amazon, is poorly known. The aim of this study was to compile the species sampled in different areas in the State of Acre. An inventory was carried out in pristine forest in the municipality of Xapuri. This list was complemented with the information of a previous inventory carried out in a forest fragment in the municipality of Senador Guiomard and with a list of species deposited at the Entomological Collection of National Institute of Amazonian Research– INPA. The resulting list covered 268 species distributed in 52 genera and nine subfamilies, and records 23 species and four morphospecies for the first time in the state of Acre. Due to the large environmental heterogeneity, future inventories will be crucial to properly describe and understand ant species distribution patterns in southwestern Amazon.

New host records of Aglaomelissa duckei and a compilation of host associations of Ericrocidini bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

For the first time, confirmed host records are reported for the monotypic Ericrocidini genus Aglaomelissa Snelling & Brooks, 1985. Aglaomelissa duckei (Friese, 1906) emerged from trap-nests of Centris (Heterocentris) analis (Fabricius, 1804) and C. (Heterocentris) terminata Smith, 1874 from two sites in the Brazilian Amazonian region. The parasitism ratio caused by A. duckei was high, varying from 80 to 100% of the brood cells in a single trap-nest. Also, a compilation of the known host records for the species of Ericrocidini is presented and host-parasite associations are discussed. Host associations are known for seven of the 11 genera and about 17 of the 42 species of the tribe, involving a total of 34 confirmed or putative host species of Centridini bees. All species of the tribe are known to attack only nests of Centris Fabricius, 1804, except Mesoplia rufipes (Perty, 1833) that also parasitizes nests of Epicharis Klug, 1807. Although the phylogenetic relationships within Ericrocidini and among the subgenera of Centris are not well resolved, the current knowledge of the host-parasite associations points to a relatively high degree of specificity and possible coevolution between them.

Checklist of orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of “Lago do Silêncio” Area, Boca do Acre, Amazonas, Brazil

This study presents a list of euglossine-bee species collected in the Lago do Silencio region, municipality of Boca do Acre, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, southwestern Amazonia. Euglossine males were attracted to odoriferous baits on December 3 and 4, 2004. A total of 234 individuals belonging to four genera and 25 species were collected. Despite the small sampling effort, the local euglossine fauna is abundant and rich, when compared to those of other areas in the Brazilian Amazonia where higher sampling efforts were performed. Therefore, further studies in the region can be important for improving our knowledge of the bees in the Amazon region.