Larval diet of the carpenter bee Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) cearensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini) from the Delta do Parnaíba environmental protection area, Brazil

Abstract

The genus Xylocopa Latreille, 1802 (Apidae: Xylocopini) Latreille includes efficient pollinating bees that visit a wide range of botanical species. Although several studies have investigated their interactions with plants in dune ecosystems, there is still a limited understanding of these bee communities in coastal environments. This study aimed to characterize the larval diet of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) cearensis Ducke, 1910 by analyzing pollen from their nests to assess the presence of specialization or generalization in relation to botanical species. The research was carried out in coastal sandbanks of the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, Tutóia, Maranhão-BR, over a 12-month period. The natural nests were inventoried by active searches and, when possible, transported to the Federal University of Maranhão. Pollen samples were collected from 19 brood cells of 12 nests in total. All the nests were found on branches of Anacardium occidentale L. Using the acetolysis method, 21 types of pollen were recognized, representing 14 botanical families. Three of those types of pollen were considered to be Frequent pollen, Mouriri cearensis Huber (35.44%), Chamaecrista ramosa (Vogel) H. S. Irwin & Barneby (32.80%) and Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) DC (27.05%). Based on these results, X. cearensis can be characterized as a polylectic species that demonstrates adaptability. These floral resources serve as essential protein sources for the nutrition of their brood, highlighting the importance of these plant species in supporting their reproductive success. This study provides useful information that can serve as a reference for future research on other Xylocopa species in similar ecosystems.

Keywords:

• Acetolysis method
• floral resources
• natural nests
• pollen
• solitary bees

Acknowledgments

To the Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA) for the infrastructure and technical support of the Laboratório de Estudos de Abelhas (LEA). To Dr. Maira Rodrigues Diniz for the identification of some pollen types, to Mrs. Maria da Conceição Rocha for the hospitality in her house in the sampled locality, to Mr. Francisco Rocha for the accompaniment during the collections and to Msc. Carlos Luís Neves Junior for his assistance during the collections.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

We thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) for funding the project.

Notes on contributors

Harryson Corrêa Barros

Harryson Corrêa Barros has a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from UFMA (2021). He is trained in Agroecology at UFMA (2021). He has a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences (emphasis on Entomology) from UFPR-PPGEnto (2023). He is a PhD student in Biological Sciences (emphasis on Entomology) at UFPR-PPGEnto. He has experience in Bee-Plant Interaction Ecology, with a focus on Palynology, Taxonomy, Systematics and Biogeography of Bees, especially corbiculate bees (Apidae: Apinae).

Luciano André Chaves Ferreira

Luciano André Chaves Ferreira has graduated in Biological Sciences (BA) from UFMA (2016) and Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation (PPGBC) from UFMA (2019). He is currently a PhD student in the Graduate Program of the Legal Amazon Biodiversity and Biotechnology Network (PPG-BIONORTE). He has been collaborating with the Bee Studies Laboratory (LEA – UFMA) since 2013, focusing on activities related to the Reference Collection (LEACOL). His work involves Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) on tropical bees, within the area of Biodiversity. He has experience in Entomology and Ecology, with a focus on the structure of bee communities in forest regions, identification and curation of biological collections.

Albeane Guimarães Silva-Almeida

Albeane Guimarães Silva-Almeida has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from UFMA (2013), a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Conservation from UFMA (2016) and a doctorate in Biodiversity and Biotechnology from PPG-BIONORTE. She teaches in the Biology Department at the State University of Maranhão (UEMA). Her studies in Entomology focus on Behavioral Ecology and Palynology, with projects developed on Foraging Distance and Temporal Memory of Melipona subnitida.

Márcia Maria Corrêa Rêgo

Márcia Maria Corrêa Rêgo has a degree in Biological Sciences from UFMA (1986), a master’s degree (1990) and a doctorate (1998) in Entomology from FFCL-USP Ribeirão Preto. She is an associate professor in the Biology Department at UFMA and a FAPEMA researcher. She coordinates projects and supervises students at LEA-UFMA in partnership with other researchers from institutions such as the Goeldi Museum, EMBRAPA-Belém Oriental, EMBRAPA Semiárido-PI and the Federal University of Pernambuco. She has experience in bee ecology, with a focus on bee community structure, working mainly on the biology of pollination, nesting and meliponiculture.