The pollen grains collected by Melipona seminigra merrillae, Melipona compressipes manaosensis, Melipona seminigra seminigra, Frieseomelitta sp. and Scaptotrigona sp. were obtained directly from the corbiculae of the worker bees during one year. Identification of the pollen grains showed that Scaptotrigona sp. was the most generalist bee, followed by Frieseomelitta sp., which together collected more pollen taxa than the three species of Melipona. Pollen from three plant species: - Miconia myrianthera, Myrcia amazonica e Tapirira guianensis -were collected by this five bee species. Regarding pollen morphology, no significant correlations were found that could indicate a preference for certain pollen grain forms, external structures or sizes of grains. All five meliponids collected pollen of several forms and sizes. It is indicative that the bees collected pollen in accordance to protoplasmic nutrients. Biochemical analyses of some pollen types carried on the corbiculae of the bees showed a high concentration of total soluble sugars, reductive sugars and starch.
|
