Variation in daily flight activity and foraging patterns in colonies of uruçu - Melipona scutellaris Latreille (Apidae, Meliponini)

摘要: The flight activities of five colonies Melipona (Michmelia) scutellaris Latreille, 1811 kept among mixed fruit crop plantations in within fragments Atlantic Rainforest Pernambuco, NE-Brazil was examined. daily deployment foragers to collect pollen, nectar, resin and mud observed. performed between 2,640 14,250 flights per day. Variations the number total were similar on all observation days. Proportional allocation different resources also showed variation. More than 90% pollen collection made early morning. Nectar collected proportional frequencies with a reduction activity at noon. On single day, observed atypical intense foraging during afternoon by colonies. This indicates high plasticity behaviour efficient recruitment which are presented mass flowering trees synchronised big bang or multiple flowering. Resource availability surrounding vegetation, therefore, seems be major factor defining forager given