O efeito da sazonalidade e a importância de plantas apícolas para a manutenção de Tetragonisca angustula Latreille, 1811 (Apidae, Meliponini) em uma área urbana em Uberlândia (MG)

Abstract

Tetragonisca angustula is a stingless bee species that plays a crucial role in pollination and maintaince of ecosystem balance. Due to its generalist diet and adaptable nesting behavior, it is commonly found in urban environments, areas often characterized by limited natural vegetation and potential degradation caused by urbanization. Considering theconservation of this bee species, this study aimed to investigate the pollen types collected from T. angustula workers from a colony installed at the “Doce Jardim” garden of the Federal University of Uberlândia, located in an urban area of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The goal was to identify the plant species used as food resource and investigate the influence of seasonality on pollen collection. Pollen samples were acetolyzed for slide preparation, followed by counting and identification under optical microscopy. The palynological analysis revealed significant diversity in the plants used by bees, with Syzygium cumini, Cenostigma pluviosum, and Syagrus romanzoffiana being the mainly species used. Pollen richness was higher during the wet season, with low similarity between seasons, indicating variation in floral availability throughout the year. The results showed that urban areas, when planted with species that flower at different times, can provide sufficient resources for native bee colonies maintenance . This study highlights the importance of incorporating melliferous plants in urban landscapes and promoting initiatives such as gardens that integrate bees, plants, and the community to support pollinator conservation in urban environments and contribute to native bees protection. It also offers insights for strategic landscape policies and environmental education.