Broad protein spectrum in stored pollen of three stingless bees from the Chaco dry forest in South America (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) and its ecological implications

VOSSLER F. G.

PSYCHE: A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY

Hindawi

Lugar: El Cairo; Año: 2015 vol. 2015 p. 1 - 7

0033-2615

Proteincontent of pollen stored by three meliponine species was variable from 9.78 % (lessthan half the value considered as optimal to brood development in Apis mellifera) in type Capparis tweediana-C. speciosa to more than 26 % in type Maytenus vitis-idaea and some Prosopissamples. This pollen of low protein value was occasionally foraged (only sixout of 75 masses analyzed of G. argentina,but none in 86 masses of T. fiebrigi orin ten of M. orbignyi). However, itis likely that amino acid deficiencies of certain pollens are compensated by randomlyforaging on a broad spectrum of pollen plants. The large amounts of pollenstored in their nests might also be important in compensating thesedeficiencies. The only sample studied for M.orbignyi showed a protein value greater than the one required for A. mellifera and was dominated by type Acacia praecox and Prosopis. As this species also prefers Solanum and other protein-rich pollen, more samples would need to beanalyzed to establish whether protein requirements are high for this Melipona species. Pollen showing thehighest protein content (> 26 %) belonged to highly nectariferous plantswell represented in meliponine and Apishoney such as Prosopis, Maytenus and Ziziphus.