EXPERIMENT ON BREEDING MELIPONA HIVES IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, GUARUJÁ – SP

Abstract

Native bees play a fundamental role in maintaining the biodiversity of Brazilian flora, being one of the main pollinators. However, with the advancement of urbanization and the consequent loss of habitat, these species have seen a drastic decline. Given this scenario, it is necessary to investigate and test the feasibility of raising these bees in urban environments, with the aim of preventing the extinction of species of the Meliponini tribe. To this end, a group of high school students with a concentration in Biological Sciences, from Etec de Guarujá-SP, decided to install baits with pheromone odors on hilltops, seeking to attract bees and stimulate the formation of hives. Since collecting the baits and attempting to form hives were unsuccessful, the group received a donation of a box already swarming with bees, which began to be monitored to assess the species' adaptation to the urban environment. Initially, it was believed that they were Jataí bees, but after analysis by the students themselves, the species was identified as Plebeia emerina. Raising these specimens contributes to the increase in the native bee population and helps mitigate the losses these species have suffered in recent decades