Influência de fatores abióticos na atividade de forrageio de Plebeia catamarcensis (hymenoptera: apidae)

Abstract

Ironless bees collect a variety of resources from plants to build their nest structures, as well as to feed immature and adult bees. Furthermore, it is common to discard waste from their colonies, and these activities are directly influenced by abiotic factors, which act to determine different foraging patterns. The information available in the literature about the species Plebeia catamarcensis is scarce and, given the social and foraging behavior observed in this group, therefore, in this study we tested the hypothesis that temperature, relative humidity and light influence the foraging activity of P. catamarcensis. For the study, eight colonies were recorded from August 2022 to April 2024, twice a month, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, with each colony being observed for 15 minutes of every hour. The number of bees that entered and left the nest, the resources obtained and the values of temperature, relative humidity and light intensity were measured. Results reveal that temperature and luminosity significantly enhance the species foraging activity, in which the amount of resource collection increases as both temperature and luminosity rise; while humidity does influence air levels, driving foraging activity at high values. In conclusion, the foraging activity of P. catamarcensis is influenced by climatic factors, temperatures, relative humidity and light intensity. Showing higher foraging rates during the hottest hours of the day in both seasons, altering resource collection across seasons to suit the needs of the colonies.