ABSTRACT
In order to investigate phenological patterns and seasonal and geographic variations in the preference for fragrances of Euglossini males, monthly sampling was carried out from August 2007 to July 2009 in two coastal areas of Atlantic Forest in Ubatuba, northern coast of the state of São Paulo. Fourteen aromatic baits were used, 3 of them in the first year (August 2007 to July 2008) and the other 11 in the second year (August 2008 to July 2009). A total of 1,475 individuals from 22 species were collected. The highest frequency of the individuals of the majority of the sampled species occurred in the hot/super-humid season. However, Eulaema cingulata (Fabricius) showed peaks of abundance in the cold/less-humid season on Anchieta Island. Seasonal variation in fragrance choice by males was not registered. Males of El. cingulata showed preference for ß-ionone on Anchieta Island and for benzyl acetate in the Picinguaba region, characterizing the single example of geographic variation in preference for scent baits we recorded.
Subject(s)
Bees/chemistry , Pheromones , Animals , Brazil , Ecosystem , Forests , Hymenoptera , Male , Seasons , SmellABSTRACT
Although crab spiders are common in flowering plants, their relations with plant species and its floral traits have been poorly known in the Neotropics. Observations regarding plant habits, floral visitors and also floral characteristics such as anthesis, odour, shape, colour and floral resources were recorded in flowering plant species of an area of "Cerrado" on a 2 km long trail. Misumenops argenteus and Misumenops pallens accounted for 62.86% of the spiders captured on 22 flowering plant species. The plants Senna rugosa (Fabaceae), Styrax ferrugineus (Styracaceae) and Banisteriopsis campestris (Malpighiaceae), hosted, each one, about 10 to 17% of the total spiders collected and these plants had diurnal anthesis, bee-attractive flower colours such as yellow (S. rugosa), white (S. ferrugineus), and pink (B. campestris), poricidal anthers as well as being visited by bees which evidenced bee-pollination syndrome. This study is the first survey regarding crab spiders and their associations with plant species of the "Cerrado".
