Diagnóstico de modelos criação e comportamento de forrageamento de Melipona scutellaris e M. quadrifasciata em área de Mata Atlântica de Sergipe, nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the foraging behavior of the stingless bees Melipona scutellaris and Melipona quadrifasciata, through the rational creation of these species in the same space, considering the models used by the regional producers of the State of Sergipe, Northeast of Brazil. In the I Chapter, the production models were characterized in order to evaluate the economic profitability of the production, the ecological perception in relation to the environmental services of pollination and the preservation of species of bees and plants. The research was conducted with the meliponicultores resident in the municipalities and communities of the Regions of Grande Aracaju (São Cristóvão 1, Itaporanga D’ajuda 3), Sul Sergipano (Santa Luzia do Itanhy 1, Estância 1), Agreste Central Sergipano (Campo do Brito 1) e Leste Sergipano (Japaratuba 2). Nine visits were made, and it was verified that the meliponicultura in the State of Sergipe is treated as a secondary activity, besides being aimed at supplementing the income of the farming families and own consumption, being conducted as a hobby without major investments. The honey production of stingless bee species is highly valued, having a high market value and acceptability by consumers when it is marketed, demonstrating that economic viability equals beekeeping activity. In addition, the producers have a perception about the ecological importance of Meliponas for the maintenance of the local biodiversity. In view of the presented reality, it was verified the necessity of organization of the producers and a greater contribution of the government for the development of meliponicultura which has the potential to increase the income of family farmers, besides contributing to the maintenance of the biodiversity of the Biome da Atlantic forest. The second chapter evaluated the foraging behavior of the species of stingless bees Melipona scutellaris and M. quadrifasciata, through the rational creation of these species in the same space. The research was conducted in the meliponário of the Instituto Federal de Sergipe (IFS), São Cristóvão, SE, during the months of June to December. For the experiment, three colonies of each species were observed, in which the flow of bees going out and coming in and the type of material they carried was observed monthly from 5 to 17h. The information collected at the entrance of the colonies was correlated (Spearman Correlation) with climatic data, temperature and relative humidity, collected through a digital thermometer installed at the meliponário at the time of the evaluations. The frequency of activities was tested through Circular Statistics. The most collected loads during the foraging activities were nectar and water, pollen, and less resin and clay, respectively. Both species were found to be significantly more active for pollen and nectar collection early in the morning. The joint action of the climatic variations of temperature and humidity influenced the flight activity of M. quadrifasciata and M. scutellaris, and for both species there was reduction of activities with the increase of temperature and decrease of the relative humidity. However, in relation to the two species, there was divergence in relation to the foraging behavior, while M. quadrifasciata concentrated its external activities from 5 to 9 o'clock in the morning, with greater representativity of nectar and water collection, pollen, clay and resin, M. Scutellaris presented a representative pollen collection from 5 to 11 o'clock and flow practically throughout the day of collection of nectar and water and in a lower percentage of clay and resin. The presented results of the foraging behavior suggest that the rational creation of the species M. quadrifasciata and M. scutellaris can be developed concomitantly in meliponários without losses, since they diverge in the schedules of greater flow and loads collected throughout the day.