Floral sources used by the orchid bee Euglossa cordata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Apidae: Euglossini) in an urban area of south-eastern Brazil

Author(s)

Ferreira-Caliman, Maria Juliana ^[1] ; da Rocha-Filho, Leo Correia ^[1] ; Freiria, Gabriele Antico ^[1] ; Garofalo, Carlos Alberto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GRANA; v. 57, n. 6, p. 471-480, 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Although orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossini) are known as key pollinators in tropical ecosystems, knowledge of their floral sources is still scarce, especially for those species commonly found in urban environments. We aimed to identify the pollen, nectar and resin sources used by the widespread species Euglossa cordata in an urban area in south-eastern Brazil. The residual pollen from 81 brood cells of nine nests reactivated between October 2013 and December 2014 was acetolysed and analysed. A total of 50 pollen types belonging to 20 botanical families were identified in the samples. Pollen sources included species from seven families; five of them were plants with poricidal anthers (Bixaceae, Commelinaceae, Fabaceae, Melastomataceae and Solanaceae). The mass-flowering trees Handroanthus chrysotrichus and H. heptaphyllus (Bignoniaceae) are firstly reported as important pollen sources to an orchid bee species. Nectar was collected primarily from plants with long, tubular corolla as Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, Bignoniaceae and Convolvulaceae. The vine species Dalechampia stipulacea (Euphorbiaceae) acted as a floral resin source. All pollen sources consisted of native plants whereas some exotic plant species were visited for nectar collection. Although nesting in an area encompassed by a high proportion of invasive plant species, Euglossa cordata females preferred to visit native plants to gather floral resources. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/13363-9 - Does reproductive skew correlate positively with genetic relatedness and mating system? Euglossa cordata and Euglossa townsendi as case studies
• Grantee: Gabriele Antico Freiria
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate