Coleta de pólen em colmeias de abelhas uruçu nordestina e vegetação melitófila do meliponário da UFPB

Abstract

This research addresses the evaluation of pollen collection by colonies of northeastern uruçu bees (Melipona scutellaris Latreille), a species native to Brazil that is threatened with extinction. The importance of preserving this species and the need to understand its interaction with the environment is understood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate pollen collection in the external activity of northeastern uruçu colonies and to map the melitophilous vegetation around the meliponary. To achieve these objectives, pollen was collected using a collector installed at the entrance to the colonies and we mapped the surrounding vegetation, identifying melitophilous plants. The results revealed that northeastern uruçu bees collected pollen from several plant species, with emphasis on the families Asteraceae, Commelinaceae, Fabaceae and Turneraceae. The pollen collection activity was carried out in the morning. Finally, it is understood that the northeastern uruçu plays an important role as a pollinator of plants native to Brazil, and how the information obtained can contribute to the conservation of the species and the development of sustainable meliponiculture, highlighting the importance of protecting both bees as well as the ecosystems they inhabit.