Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in Oriental Mountains Cementeries from Colombia

Abstract

In 11 cemeteries of Cundinamarca and Meta (Colombia) departments we found 203 nests of stingless bees pertaining to 15 species. The majority of the found nests (61%) belong to genus Nannotrigona Cokerell, 1922. Nannotrigona mellaria was the specie with the greater nests number and higher population; Trigona (Tetragonisca) angustula was found in all cemeteries, but in a smaller percentage that N. mellaria (29% of the total). In the Tena (Cundinamarca) cemetery was found the nest highest density (118 nest/ha), with a tombs occupation percentage of 13.9%. We discussed the importance of cemeteries as an alternative for wild bees nesting sites conservation in urban areas.

Keywords

• Meliponini
• Nidificación
• Áreas Urbanas
• Cementerios