Pollen preference of stingless bees ( Melipona rufiventris and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides ) inside an urban tropical forest at Rio de Janeiro city

Stingless bees Melipona rufiventris and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides exhibit distinct pollen preferences within Rio de Janeiro's urban tropical forest, the Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT), reducing competition for resources. Analysis of pollen pellets revealed dominant plant sources such as Alchornea, Eucalyptus, Mimosa species, and Melastomataceae, with minimal overlap in foraging between the two bee species over a year. This suggests that diverse bee populations are crucial for maintaining pollination and ecosystem resilience in urban forests. The study employed non-destructive pollen collection methods to compare taxon percentages, offering insights into the ecological roles of stingless bees in preserving Atlantic rainforest biodiversity.

Barth, O. M., de Freitas, A. d. S., & Vanderborght, B. (2020). Pollen preference of stingless bees ( Melipona rufiventris and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides ) inside an urban tropical forest at Rio de Janeiro city. Journal of Apicultural Research, 59(5), 1005–1010. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1714863