The role of agroforestry yards in the diet of Melipona (Melikerria) interrupta Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in a terra-firme environment near the confluence of the Amazon and Tapajós Rivers

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the botanical origin of Melipona interrupta honey produced in agroforestry backyards (AB) by traditional communities near the confluences of the Amazon and Tapajós Rivers. For comparison purposes, stingless beehives were installed in a secondary forest (SF) environment as well. In all, forty-four honey samples were analyzed from four meliponaries in two areas (AB1 and AB2; SF1 and SF2) between July 2021 and June 2022 in Arapixuna. In AB1, 25 pollen types were found in the honey samples and, in AB2, 22 were found. More than 50% of the pollen types found in the honey samples in the ABs were related to plants present only in the SF, indicating that the bees left the ABs and collected pollen in the SF. The main resources collected by M. interrupta for honey composition were Protium heptaphyllum present in 70% of the samples, followed by Triplaris type (68%), Psidium guajava (52%), Bellucia imperialis and Eugenia biflora (38%) and Tapirira guianensis (34%). The survey of botanical species in the ABs indicated that most plant species were fruit trees; however, the bees visited a low percentage of these plants. When analyzing the SF samples, a behavioral pattern of foraging was observed which was similar to those of the ABs. These data indicate that the two environments studied have melliferous characteristics that favor beekeeping. Moreover, ABs also have advantageous characteristics in relation to the SF, such as improved protection of colonies against invaders/theft of honey and the ease of maintenance of the colonies.