The type material of Melipona postica Latreille, the type species of the stingless bee genus Scaptotrigona Moure (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

ABSTRACT The present contribution deals with the recognition of the type material of Melipona postica Latreille and the identity of the taxon it represents. The origin of the specimens studied by Illiger and Klug, and which Illiger later sent to Latreille, is traced to Francisco Agostinho Gomes, who collected the material in Salvador, Bahia, and sent them to the Count von Hoffmansegg, in Prussia. Based on material located at the Museum für Naturkunde, in Berlin, a lectotype is designated for Melipona postica Latreille. The specimen is redescribed and illustrated. The name Scaptotrigona xanthotricha Moure is placed as a synonym of S. postica.

The origin of the stingless bee species described by Frederick Smith from Brazilian specimens brought to the London International Exhibition of 1862

ABSTRACT For a long time, the provenance of the specimens used by Frederick Smith to describe the species of stingless bees from Brazil remained a mystery. The recent digitalization of 19th century publications has made possible to trace the origin of the material brought to the London International Exhibition of 1862 by the Brazilian delegation. We document that the bee specimens showed at the International Exhibition, and that served as type material of the species described by Smith, were collected by Manuel Ferreira Lagos, head of the Zoology section of the Comissão Científica de Exploração, during their stay in Ceará, from 1859 to 1861. Even if late, it is important to give due credit to the Comissão Científica de Exploração, and more specifically to Lagos, for the contribution to the knowledge of the stingless bee fauna from Brazil.

Nesting substrates and nest density of stingless bees in the Petenes Biosphere Reserve, Mexico / Sustratos de nidificación y densidad de nidos de abejas sin aguijón en la reserva de la biósfera de los petenes, méxico

RESUMEN Las abejas sin aguijón (ASA) son organismos relevantes en los ecosistemas por su desempeño como polinizadores. En México, la mayor diversidad de ASA se encuentra en el sureste. En este estudio se determinaron las especies de ASA y densidad de nidos en dos sitios con diferente perturbación dentro de la Reserva de la Biósfera de los Petenes (RBLP) Campeche (México). Asimismo, se identificaron los sustratos y las especies arbóreas de nidificación. En total se realizaron diez muestreos en transectos entre los meses de enero a mayo de 2018. Se registraron 56 nidos pertenecientes a ocho especies diferentes de ASA (Cephalotrigona zexmeniae, Frieseomelitta nigra, Lestrimellita niitkib, Nannotrigona perilampoides, Partamona bilineata, Plebeia frontalis, Scaptotrigona pectoralis y Trígona fulviventris). Las especies con mayor número de nidos correspondieron a F. nigra (41,07 %) y S. pectoralis (28,57 %). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la densidad de nidos entre los sitios Hecelchakán (2,15 nidos/ha) y Calkiní (0,19 nidos/ha). El sustrato preferido para anidación son las cavidades en árboles vivos (78,57 %). En total 15 especies arbóreas fueron identificadas como sustrato de nidificación y la especie más abundante correspondió a Crescentia cujete (n = 18, 40,9 %). El grado de perturbación tuvo poco efecto en el número y densidad de nidos de ASA, sin embargo, en general, la RBLP presentó una composición de especies y densidad de nidos reducida. Por lo tanto, este estudio permitió establecer las bases para futuros estudios sobre estrategias de manejo y conservación de estas especies para evitar su desaparición en la RBLP.

ABSTRACT Stingless bees (ASA) are relevant organisms in ecosystems because of their performance as pollinators. In Mexico, the higher diversity of ASA is found in the southeast. In this study, the ASA species and nest density of nests were identified at two sites with different disturbances (Hecelchakán and Calkiní) within the Petenes Biosphere Reserve (RBLP), Campeche (Mexico). Also, the substrates and the nesting tree species were identified. In total, ten sampling transects were performed between January and May 2018. In total 56 nests belonging to eight different species of ASA (Cephalotrigonazexmeniae, Frieseomelitta nigra, Lestrimellita niitkib, Nanotrigonaperilampoides, Partamona bilineata, Plebeia frontalis, Scaptotrigona pectoralis and Trigona fulviventris) were found. The species with the highest number of nests corresponded to F. nigra (41.07 %) and S. pectoralis (28.57 %). No significant differences were found in nest density between the Hecelchakán (2.15 nests/ha) and Calkiní (0.19 nests/ha) site. The preferred substrate for nesting is cavities in living trees (78.57 %). In total 15 tree species were identified as nesting substrate and the most abundant species corresponded to Crescentia cujete (n = 8, 40.90 %). The degree of disturbance had little effect on the number and density of ASA nest, however, in general, the RBLP presented low species composition and nest density. Therefore, this study allowed to establish the bases for future studies on management and conservation strategies of these species to avoid their loss in the RBLP.

Geographical origin of white honey produced by stingless bees in the Araucaria Forest in Southern Brazil / Origem geográfica do mel branco produzido por abelhas sem ferrão na Floresta de Araucárias no Sul do Brasil

Abstract: Honey produced by native stingless bees in the Araucaria Forest region of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, specifically the municipality of Cambará do Sul, is highly valued for its characteristic white color, floral odor and taste. In this study, we investigated the botanical origin of white honey stored in colonies of five Meliponini species of the genera Melipona (n = 3) and Plebeia (n = 2). During the production period of white honey, from January to March, flowers were sampled fortnightly along pre-established trails to identify plants used by bees. For all sampled plant species, exsiccates and pollen reference slides were prepared. Honey samples from stingless bees were processed for extraction and preparation of pollen grains for identification of pollen types. In all analyzed honey samples, pollen grains of Clethra scabra (Clethraceae) were predominant (between 46-94%). Pollen grains from other botanical families, including Myrtaceae, Fabaceae and Melastomataceae were frequently identified in honey samples of the Melipona species, while Cunoniaceae was also found in samples of Plebeia species. In this study, we concluded that Clethra scabra is predominantly used by Meliponini bees in the production of white honey in the municipality of Cambará do Sul.

Resumo: Na região da Floresta de Araucária do Rio Grande do Sul, especificamente no município de Cambará do Sul, as abelhas nativas sem ferrão produzem mel característico devido à sua cor branca e gosto apreciado. Neste estudo, investigamos a origem botânica do mel branco armazenado em colônias de cinco espécies de Meliponini dos gêneros Melipona (n = 3) e Plebeia (n = 2). Durante o período de produção do mel branco, de janeiro a março, as flores foram amostradas quinzenalmente ao longo de trilhas pré-estabelecidas, a fim de identificar as espécies utilizadas pelas abelhas. A partir de amostras de plantas foram preparadas exsicatas e lâminas de referência de pólen. As amostras de mel de abelhas sem ferrão foram processadas para extração e preparo dos grãos de pólen para a determinação dos tipos polínicos presentes. Em todas as amostras de méis branco analisadas os grãos de pólen de Clethra scabra (Clethraceae) predominaram (entre 46-94%). Grãos de pólen de outras espécies das famílias botânicas Myrtaceae, Fabaceae e Melastomataceae foram frequentemente identificados nas amostras de méis das espécies de Melipona, enquanto Cunoniaceae também o foi nas amostras das espécies de Plebeia. Neste estudo, nós concluímos que Clethra scabra é predominantemente utilizada pelas abelhas Meliponini na produção de méis branco no município de Cambará do Sul.

Antileishmanial activity and chemical composition from Brazilian geopropolis produced by stingless bee Melipona fasciculata

ABSTRACT Geopropolis is produced by some stingless bee species such as Melipona fasciculata and consists of a mixture of plant resins, salivary secretions of the bee, wax, and soil. This study evaluated the antileishmanial activity in vitro, cytotoxicity and chemical composition of geopropolis produced by M. fasciculata in the savannah region of Maranhão, Brazil. The geopropolis extract was obtained through maceration using in 70% ethanol. The hydroalcoholic extract of geopropolis after liquid-liquid partition yielded the hexane, chloroformic, ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic fractions. Antileishmanial activity was evaluated against promastigote and intracellular amastigote of Leishmania amazonensis. Cytotoxic was realized in BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ultraviolet-visible detector. The geopropolis inhibited the L. amazonensis promastigotes growth and was effective in reducing the infection of murine macrophages since the number of internalized amastigotes were smaller in cells treated with the geopropolis extract in relation to the untreated group. The ethyl acetate fraction was the most active and showed the highest index of selectivity as antileishmanial product. The geopropolis from M. fasciculata had an antileishmanial effect, mainly after the obtention of the ethyl acetate fraction that improved the activity without increasing the cytotoxicity against murine macrophages. Analysis for gas chromatography-mass spectrometer identified as main compounds the gallic and ellagic phenolic acids, either in the extract or in the active fraction. The results obtained by high performance liquid chromatography it was possible to confirm the presence and quantify the concentration gallic and ellagic acid either in the extract or in the active fraction. These results suggest that the antileishmanial activity of geopropolis is related to the presence of derivatives of these phenolic acids, mainly gallic and ellagic acids.

Nest architecture and colony characteristics of Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) in Cameroon

Stingless bees have evolved adaptive nest constructions strategies which have resulted in sophisticated nest architecture inmany species while others lack certain structural components. However, no information exists on the nest biology andecology on the genus Meliponula in Cameroon. This study aims to contribute to knowledge on the nest architecture andcolony characteristics of Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea. Meliponula ferruginea belongs to the genus Meliponulaand subgenus Axestotrigona. This species was first described by Le Peletier De Saini-Farrgeau (1836) and Michener (Thebees of the world, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London, 2000) recently. In Cameroon the specieshas been collected in the northern parts of the country, but there has been no attempt to describe the nest architecture. Ourstingless bee survey from the Bamenda highlands afromontane forests of Cameroon reveals that this species can either nestin tree trunks or in abandoned traditional hollow hives. Interestingly, 50% of colonies studied nested in traditional hollowhives originally baited for honeybees (Apis mellifera adansonii). The nest entrance of Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea ranged from 1 to 1.5 cm (1.2±0.0.24 cm) in diameter, while the external entrance tube extended up to 1.6±0.0.4cm and the nest entrance tube can go up to 5 cm inward in depending on the thickness of the tree trunk. The nest is made upof sticky brown 5–7 (6±0.98) involucra sheets. The size of brood area depends on the age and condition of the nest. Thelength of the nest could be between 5.5 and 7.6 cm (6.8±0.98 cm) and up to 13± 4.16 cm combs with a comb diameter ofabout 7.5±1.29 cm. The cells and storage pots are oval in shape but the storage pots are much larger, about 3 times the sizeof cell. Generally, this study shows a lot of similarities with other previously studied species in terms of the nestcharacteristics and measurements. However, the above characteristics can be very useful in taxonomical, phylogenetic andecological studies of M. ferruginea.

Ecuadorian honey types described by Kichwa community in Rio Chico, Pastaza province, Ecuador using Free-Choice Profiling

Abstract Pastaza is the largest and least populated province in Ecuador, with seven native indigenous nationalities. The Kichwas from the Rio Chico community live near to the capital city Puyo, are recognized for their knowledge on stingless honey bees. From the 400 species of Neotropical Meliponini that make honey in cerumen pots, almost 100 thrive in Southern Ecuador, and confer such biodiversity to pot-honey. In this study sensory characteristics of Ecuadorian false and genuine honeys with diverse entomological origin: Apis mellifera - light amber and amber, Geotrigona leucogastra, Melipona grandis and Scaptotrigona sp. (S. ederi np Schwarz) were investigated with Kichwa assessors (four female and four male, aged 18-62 years old). The panel was asked to taste and to identify sensory attributes of honey (appearance, taste, smell, aroma, mouthfeel, other tactile sensations), and to score their intensities in 10 cm unstructured line scales anchored with the words weak and strong, using the Free-Choice Profile methodology The Generalized Procrustes Analysis was used on the data. The first and second dimensions accounted for by 61.1% of the variance. In the descriptive sensory evaluation, darker honeys (amber A. mellifera, false and Geotrigona) were separated from (light amber A. mellifera, Melipona and Scaptotrigona) by the first dimension; whereas thicker honeys (A. mellifera and false) were discriminated from thinner honeys (Geotrigona, Melipona and Scaptotrigona) by the second dimension. The assessors were able to evaluate and differentiate honey types without previous sensory training. Remarkably, two Kichwa ladies immediately spit out the false honey, in contrast to an acceptance study on 18-honeys, where the false honey was scored among the preferred ones by 58 participants of the First Congress on Apiculture and Meliponiculture in Ecuador. Therefore, results suggest that Ecuadorian native Kichwas keep a sensory legacy of ancestral knowledge with forest products such as honey.

New species of the stingless bee genus Schwarziana (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

ABSTRACT Two new species of the stingless bee genus Schwarziana from Brazil are described and illustrated. Schwarziana bocainensis sp. nov. is described from Serra da Bocaina, in São Paulo, and S. chapadensis sp. nov. is described from Chapada dos Veadeiros, in Goiás. An identification key to workers of the known species of Schwarziana is provided.

Size and shape in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera; Meliponini) / Tamanho e forma em Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera; Meliponini)

This study aimed to identify differences in wing shape among populations of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides obtained in 23 locations in the semi-arid region of Bahia state (Brazil). Analysis of the Procrustes distances among mean wing shapes indicated that population structure did not determine shape variation. Instead, populations were structured geographically according to wing size. The Partial Mantel Test between morphometric (shape and size) distance matrices and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, was used for a more detailed understanding of size and shape determinants. A partial Mantel test between morphometris (shape and size) variation and altitude, taking geographic distances into account, revealed that size (but not shape) is largely influenced by altitude (r = 0.54 p 0.01). These results indicate greater evolutionary constraints for the shape variation, which must be directly associated with aerodynamic issues in this structure. The size, however, indicates that the bees tend to have larger wings in populations located at higher altitudes.

Este trabalho avaliou a divergência de forma entre populações de Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, utilizando caracteres morfométricos em 23 localidades da região semi-árida do estado da Bahia (Brasil). As análises das distâncias de Procrustes entre as formas médias das asas indicaram que não há estruturação populacional para a variação dessa estrutura. Entretanto, nossas análises demonstraram que as populações estavam estruturadas geograficamente pelo tamanho das asas. O teste parcial de Mantel entre matrizes de distâncias morfométricas (forma e tamanho) e altitude, levando em conta as distâncias geográficas, foi utilizado para uma compreensão mais detalhada dos determinantes de tamanho e forma. O teste de Mantel entre as variações morfométricas (forma e tamanho) e altitude, tendo em conta as distâncias geográficas, revelou que o tamanho (mas não a forma) é amplamente influenciado pela altitude (r = 0,54 p 0,01). Tais resultados indicam maiores restrições evolutivas para a variação de forma, o que deve estar diretamente associado às questões aerodinâmicas dessa estrutura. O tamanho, por outro lado, indica que as abelhas estudadas tendem a apresentar asas maiores nas populações localizadas em regiões de maior altitude.

Abelhas-sem-ferrão amazônicas defendem meliponários contra saques de outras abelhas / Amazonian stingless bees protect meliponaries against robber bees

Among eusocial bees, two genera evolved a cleptobiotic life strategy, stealing food resources from other bee nest instead of collecting it from flowers. Under natural conditions there is a gradient of strategies against robbing, from more susceptible to highly resistant species. In this work, we describe one attack of the robber bee Lestrimelitta rufipes to a nest of Scaptotrigona sp. in the Amazon Rain Forest (Amazonas, Brazil). The attacked nest was introduced in a beekeeping area with bees already known to be resistant to cleptobiosis. The resident bees (Duckeola ghilianii and Melipona fulva) counter-attacked the robber bees and successfully protect the Scaptotrigona sp. nest. The presence of the defensive behaviour in unrelated genera suggests it evolved many times in social bees. Based on the protective behaviour described here, we suggest that in order to reduce the damage caused by Lestrimelitta attacks in Amazonian beekeeping, a combination of defensive and non-resistant bees should be considered.

Entre as abelhas eussociais, dois gêneros apresentam estratégia de vida cleptobiótica, obtendo recursos alimentares de ninhos de outras abelhas ao invés de coletá-los em flores. Entre as espécies atacadas existe um gradiente de suscetibilidade ao roubo variando desde espécies vulneráveis até altamente resistentes. Neste trabalho nós descrevemos um ataque de Lestrimelitta rufipes a um ninho de Scaptotrigona sp. em um meliponário na Amazônia central (Amazonas, Brazil). O ninho atacado foi transferido para um meliponário com espécies resistentes (Duckeola ghilianii e Melipona fulva) e as interações foram descritas. As abelhas resistentes contra-atacaram e afugentaram as ladras protegendo o ninho de Scaptotrigona sp.. A presença de comportamento defensivo em gêneros não proximamente relacionados sugere que ele tenha evoluído mais de uma vez entre os Meliponini. Considerando o comportamento descrito, sugerimos a criação de espécies nativas resistentes em meliponários de regiões onde elas forem nativas, devido ao potencial que elas tem na proteção.

On the identity of Melipona torrida Friese (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

On the identity of Melipona torrida Friese (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Melipona marginata var. torrida Friese, 1916, described from three workers putatively collected in Costa Rica, never had its identity properly recognized. Since its original description, no additional specimens have ever been collected in Costa Rica. It is argued here that Melipona torrida was based on mislabeled specimens and corresponds to Melipona marginata obscurior Moure, 1971, a form known only from southern Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A lectotype is designated for Melipona torrida and notes on the type material of Melipona marginata obscurior are provided. Other known examples of species described from mislabeled specimens in Friese's Zur Bienenfauna von Costa Rica are discussed. It is pointed out that additional names proposed in this work, based on material from Costa Rica, might turn out to correspond to South American taxa. Also, the date of publication of this Friese's paper is discussed.

How a Huottuja (Piaroa) community perceives genuine and false honey from the Venezuelan Amazon, by free-choice profi le sensory method

Pot honey is the most abundant honey in the forest, produced by many species of stingless bees (Meliponini) of the Huottuja (Piaroa) community in Paria Grande, Venezuela. However, the commercialization of this honey is low, and false honeys, which are sold in labelled bottles, are easily found in the market. This study has investigated the ability of an untrained panel of Piaroa assessors to differentiate the genuine from the false pot honey using the Free-choice profile. This sensory method allows consumers to use their own words to describe and to quantify sensory attributes of a product. The genuine honeys, light amber Melipona fuscopilosa "isabitto" and dark amber Tetragona clavipes "ajavitte", the false light and dark "angelita" honeys, and the amber Apis mellifera honey, were evaluated. Sensory attributes related to the appearance, color, odor, flavor and mouthfeel were elicited in a qualitative session and were quantified in 10-cm unstructured line scales using individual score sheets. The data were analyzed by Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA). The bidimensional plot successfully separated genuine from false pot honeys. The first dimension (39.50 percent) was represented by the low viscosity, fermented odor and sour taste, whereas the second dimension (24.69 percent) was related to fruity and honey odor and flavor. Huottuja assessors differentiated the five honey types in terms of the perceived sensory characteristics.

Handling sticky resin by stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae) / Manipulação de resinas pegajosas pelas abelhas-sem-ferrão (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

For their nest defense, stingless bees (Meliponini) collect plant resins which they stick on intruders like ants or cleptobiotic robber bees causing their immobilization. The aim of this article is to identify all parts of stingless bee workers contacting these sticky resins. Of special interest are those body parts with anti-adhesive properties to resin, where it can be removed without residues. For that, extensive behavioral observations during foraging flight, handling and application of the resin have been carried out. When handling the resin, all tarsi touch the resin while walking above it. For transportation from plants to the nest during foraging flight, the resin is packed to the corbicula via tarsi and basitarsi of front and middle legs. Once stuck to the resin or after the corbicula had been unloaded, the bee's legs have to be cleaned thoroughly. Only the tips of the mandibles, that form, cut and apply the sticky resin, seem to have at least temporarily resin-rejecting properties.

Para sua defesa, abelhas-sem-ferrão (Meliponini) coletam resinas vegetais para colar nos invasores de seus ninhos como formigas ou abelhas cleptobióticas causando a imobilização deles. O objetivo desse artigo é identificar todas as partes das operárias das abelhas-sem-ferrão que tocam na resina. De interesse especial são aquelas partes do corpo que repelem as resinas. Para isso, extensas observações foram realizadas tanto durante a coleta, como no tratamento e na aplicação das resinas. Durante a manipulação da resina, todos os tarsos das operárias encostam-se à resina quando andam sobre sua superfície. Para transportar a resinas das plantas para os ninhos durante o vôo de coleta, a resina é transferida para a corbícula via tarsos e basitarsos das pernas anteriores e médias. Uma vez coladas na resina ou depois que a corbícula foi descarregada, as pernas das operárias são meticulosamente limpas. Utilizadas na manipulação, corte e aplicação da resina pegajosa, somente as pontas das mandíbulas parecem ter, pelo menos temporariamente, propriedades repelindo resina.

Presencia de ácido láctico y otros compuestos semivolátiles en mieles de meliponini / Presence of lactic acid and other semivolatil compound in meliponini honeys

Durante el estudio de compuestos semivolátiles, se encontró ácido láctico en mieles producidas por cuatro especies de abejas sin aguijón. Además, se identificaron otros compuestos: ácido 2-etil-2-hidroxi-propanoico en mieles de Melipona favosa, 5-(hidroximetil)-2-furancarboxaldehído y a-(fenilmetil)-benceno etanol, en mieles de Scaptotrigona mexicana, 2-butanol, eneicosano y heptacosano en mieles deTrigona carbonaria.

During the study of semivolatile compounds, lactic acid was found in the honey produced by four species of stingless bees. Moreover, other compounds were identified: 2-ethylhydroxy- propanoic acid in Melipona favosa honeys, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde and a-phenylmethyl benzene ethanol in Scaptotrigona mexicana honey, 2-butanol, heneicosane and heptacosane in Trigona carbonaria honey.

Five egg-laying queens in a single colony of brazilian stingless bees (Melipona scutellaris Latreille / Presença de cinco rainhas fisogástricas em colônia de abelha sem ferrão (Melipona scutellaris Latreille)

Polygyny, characterized by the presence of several egg-laying queens, is considered as a temporary colony status. In stingless bees it is rarely observed. This paper reports the first case of natural polygyny in Melipona scutellaris colony, with five egg-laying queens.

Poliginia, caracterizada pela presença de mais de uma rainha poedeira, é considerada como uma condição temporária em colônias. Em abelhas sem ferrão isso é raramente observado. Este artigo registra o primeiro caso de poliginia natural em colônia de Melipona scutellaris, com cinco rainhas poedeiras.

The Natural History of Nest Defence in a Stingless Bee, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with Two Distinct Types of Entrance Guards

The stingless bee Tetragonsica angustula (Latreille) is the only social bee known that has two different types of nest entrance guards. As in other stingless bees and the honey bee one type stands on, in or near the nest entrance. The second type, so far only known in T. angustula, hovers near the nest entrance. In order to gain further understanding of this unique situation we studied guarding behaviour in both types of guards. Using marked bees, we found that individual worker bees guarded for a long time, up to 20 days, relative to their short, average c. 21 day, lifespan. Relatively few, 33 percent, individually marked guards were seen performing both types of guarding. The others only acted as standing guards. The bees that did perform both types did so over similar periods of their life. Hovering bouts were 57 min long, interrupted by breaks inside the hive of a few minutes (3.3 ± 1.5 min). Standing bouts were slightly longer (74 min) and also interrupted by short breaks (7.82 ± 6.45 min). Human breath, mimicking a vertebrate intruder, caused the guards to retreat into the nest rather than to attack the intruder. Some colonies protected themselves against intruders by closing the entrance during the night (32 percent and 56 percent of colonies during two nights). In summary, our results indicate that nest entrance guarding in T. angustula involves division of labour between the two types, in which most guarding individuals only act as standing guards.

Age polyethism in Plebeia emerina (Friese) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies related to propolis handling

Stingless bees collect plant resins and make it into propolis, although they have a wider range of use for this material than do honey bees (Apis spp.). Plebeia spp. workers employ propolis mixed with wax (cerumen) for constructing and sealing nest structures, while they use viscous (sticky) propolis for defense by applying it onto their enemies. Isolated viscous propolis deposits are permanently maintained at the interior of their colonies, as also seen in other Meliponini species. Newly-emerged Plebeia emerina (Friese) workers were observed stuck to and unable to escape these viscous propolis stores. We examined the division of labor involved in propolis manipulation, by observing marked bees of known age in four colonies of P. emerina from southern Brazil. Activities on brood combs, the nest involucrum and food pots were observed from the first day of life of the marked bees. However, work on viscous propolis deposits did not begin until the 13th day of age and continued until the 56th day (maximum lifespan in our sample). Although worker bees begin to manipulate cerumen early, they seem to be unable to handle viscous propolis till they become older.

Estudio incesante de meliponini al estilo de JMF Camargo / Incessant study of meliponini in the style of JMF Camargo

El entomólogo, naturalista y artista João Maria Franco de Ca margo fue un científico que estudió las abejas sin aguijón (Meliponini) con singular interés. La enorme biodiversidad de estas primeras abejas del planeta, fue para él una inagotable mina de inspiración, curiosidad y trabajo intelectual. Docente, investigador y dibujante privilegiado de la academia. Académico por vocación, inició la mayor colección de abejas tropicales con 150.000 abejas. Co la borador incondicional y perfeccionista, guardián de los detalles. Ge neroso con su exuberante conocimiento es pe cializado en sistemática y biogeografía. Su admirable contacto con las abejas fue el legado de su vida. Este ine fable asombro por el mundo de los Meliponini generó im portantes preguntas y laboriosas respuestas, que se irradiaron y motivaron a los más jóvenes. Las enseñanzas originales de su maestro Jesús Santiago Moure, crecieron y se multiplicaron en el fértil discípulo que fue João Maria Franco de Ca mar go, quien a su vez preparó a Silvia Regina de Menezes Pedro, actual curadora de la colección de abejas en Ribeirão Preto.

The entomologist, naturalist and artist João Maria Franco de Camargo was a scientist who studied stingless bees (Me li ponini) with singular interest. The enormous biodiversity of these first bees in the planet, was for him an inexhaus tible mine of inspiration, curiosity and intelectual work. Acade mic lecturer, researcher and privileged drawer. Academic by vocation, initiated the biggest collection of tropical bees with 150.000 bees. Unconditional collaborator and perfectionist, guardian of details. Generous with his exuberant specialized knowledge in systematics and biogeography. His admirable contact with the bees was the legacy of his life. This ineffable amazement for the Meliponini world generated important questions and laborious answers, irradiating and motivating the youngests. The original teachings of his master Jesús Santiago Mou re, grew and multiplied in the fertile disciple João Maria Fran co de Camargo, who also trained Silvia Regina de Me nezes Pedro, current curator of the bee collection in Ri beirão Preto.

Comparación de mieles producidas por la abeja yateí (Tetragonisca fiebrigi) en Argentina y Paraguay / Comparison of honeys produced by the bee yateí (Tetragonisca fiebrigi) in Argentina and Paraguay

Tetragonisca fiebrigi Schwarz 1938 es una abeja sin aguijón conocida como yateí en Argentina y Paraguay. Al igual que otras especies de Meliponini, esta abeja nativa produce miel en botijas, con acidez y humedad más elevadas que los requisitos en mieles de Apis mellifera L. Se compararon 16 muestras de miel de T. fiebrigi producidas en la provincia de Misiones, Argentina y en el departamento de Itapuá, Paraguay según su contenido de humedad por refractometría, el color instrumental, la capacidad antioxidante en equivalentes de Trolox (TEAC) con el método del catión radical ABTS.+, el contenido de flavonoides con el cloruro de aluminio y el de polifenoles totales con el reactivo Folin Ciocalteu, y la actividad antibacteriana. Las propiedades de las mieles de Argentina y Paraguay variaron como se indica a continuación en color (107,18±19,40 y 100,40±15,47 mm Pfund), contenido de humedad (23,89±1,74 y 23,68±0,78 g agua/100 g miel), flavonoides (14,37±11,11 y 12,66±4,82 mg EQ/100 g miel), polifenoles (240,74±94,05 y 148,29±17,75 mg EAG/100 g miel) y TEAC (160,15±60,50 y 120,91±38,67 mymoles equivalentes Trolox/100 g miel). El color, la humedad, los contenidos de flavonoides y de polifenoles no variaron significativamente según el origen geográfico de las mieles, pero la TEAC fue mayor en las mieles argentinas que en las paraguayas. La concentración inhibitoria mínima de miel fue mayor contra Escherichia coli (50 g/100 mL) que contra Staphylococcus aureus (6,25 a 50 g/100 mL). Esta caracterización de mieles de yateí es una contribución para sugerir sus estándares de calidad.

Tetragonisca fiebrigi Schwarz 1938 is a stingless bee named yateí in Argentina and Paraguay. As well as other Meliponini species, this native bee stores honey in pots with acidity and moisture higher than the Apis mellifera L. honey standards. Sixteen T. fiebrigi honey samples produced in the county of Misiones, Argentina, and Itapuá department, Paraguay were compared according to their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) by the method of the radical cation ABTS.+, flavonoid with aluminium chloride and total polyphenols contents with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The properties between honeys from Argentina and Paraguay varied as follows in color (107.18±19.40 and 100.40±15.47 mm Pfund), moisture (23.89±1.74 and 23.68±0.78 g water/100 g honey), flavonoids (14.37±11.11 and 12.66±4.82 mg QE/100 g honey), poliphenols (240.74±94.05 and 148.29±17.75 mg GAE/100 g honey), and TEAC (160.15±60.50 and 120.91±38.67 mumoles Trolox equivalents/100 g honey). The color, moisture, flavonoid and polyphenol contents did not vary significantly according to the geographical origin, but the TEAC was higher in the honeys from Argentina than in those from Paraguay. This characterization of yateí honey is a contribution to suggest its quality standards.

Visitação de orquídea por Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo (Hymenoptera: Apidae), abelha ameaçada de extinção / Visitation of orchid by Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo (Hymenoptera: Apidae), bee threatened with extinction

The stingless bee Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo is a species restricted to the Atlantic forest in the Domingos Martins, Conceição do Castelo, Venda Nova do Imigrante and Afonso Cláudio County, in the Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Despite its cological importance as pollinator few studies have examined the ecology and biology of this bee. This note relates a case of the M. capixaba workers carrying pollinarium attached to the scuttellum. The pollinaria were identified as belonging to the orchid subtribe Maxillariinae species possibly of the genus Maxillaria sensu lato or Xylobium.

A abelha sem ferrão Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo é uma espécie restrita à Mata Atlântica nos municípios de Domingos Martins, Conceição do Castelo, Venda Nova do Imigrante e Afonso Cláudio, ES. Apesar de sua importância ecológica como polinizador, poucos estudos têm investigado a biologia e ecologia dessa abelha, popularmente conhecida como uruçu-negra, pé-de-pau, ou uruçu-capixaba. Esta nota relata uma observação de operárias de M. capixaba carregando polinário preso ao escutelo. Os polinários foram identificados como pertencentes a uma espécie da subtribo Maxillariinae e, possivelmente, a um dos gêneros Maxillaria sensu lato ou Xylobium.