Collection of floral resources by bees in Solanum lycocarpum A.St.-Hil. (Solanaceae): interference of abiotic factors and need for buzzing behavior

Abstract

The foraging activity of floral visitors is influenced by habitat conditions and abiotic factors. The aim of this research was to define the faunal composition of the visitor community in Solanum lycocarpum A.St.-Hil. (Solanaceae) and to evaluate the influence of abiotic factors on the flight activity of the predominant visitors. The capture of bees was conducted for 15 minutes from the beginning of each hour between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm in a cluster with 15 S. lycocarpum individuals during 10 days. Centridini was the predominant tribe of bees, with 83.5% of the total foraging recorded. About 66.5% of foraging was concentrated in the time interval between 8:00 am and 12:59 pm, characterized as a optimal foraging period. At 6:00 am and from 5:00 pm onwards, bees were discouraged from foraging. Only Epicharis flava Friese and Centris scopipes Friese were classified as predominant species. Centris scopipes was the only predominant species whose abiotic conditions interfered in the foraging activities. Since bee foraging records were developed in the summer, environmental conditions did not limit the foraging of most bees during the entire foraging period of the day.

Keywords

• Abiotic factors
• Behavior
• Buzz-pollination
• Centridini
• Optimal foraging