MELITTOPHILY IN THE SANTOS ZOOBOTANICAL PARK, BRAZIL

Abstract

The reproduction of angiosperms strongly depends on bee pollination, which sustains trophic chains. In Brazil, stingless bees stand out, though they are threatened by competition with Africanized bees and urban expansion. We cataloged bee species visiting angiosperms in the Zoobotanical Park of Santos (São Paulo State, Brazil), where stingless bees are maintained. The most visited plants were Cordyline fruticosa and Bauhinia purpurea. The most frequently observed bees were Nannotrigona testaceicornis, Plebeia droryana, and Tetragonisca angustula. The presence of Melipona quadrifasciata, kept in the Park, was not recorded; however, the competitive Scaura longula and the invasive Apis mellifera were detected, highlighting the need to investigate possible competition with native species