Apidologie 37 (2006) 58-66
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2005059

Species diversity and community structure in trap-nesting bees in Southern Brazil

Maria Luisa Tunes Buschini

Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Centro Oeste, Rua Presidente Zacarias 875, Guarapuava (PR), 85010990, Brazil

(Received 28 April 2005 - revised 8 August 2005 - accepted 15 August 2005 - published online 13 December 2005)

Abstract - The species diversity and community structure of trap-nesting bees in the Parque Municipal das Araucárias in Southern Brazil was studied during 2 years. Three different habitats (Araucaria forest, swamp and grassland) were investigated in terms of abundance, richness, diversity and similarity of bee communicites. A total of 120 nests of 11 species were collected. The largest abundance of individuals and species richness was found for the family Megachilidae. The most abundant species were Centris tarsata, Megachile brasiliensis and Colletes sp. Intermediate species were C. tarsata, M. brasiliensis, Colletes sp, Epanthidium nectarinioides, Megachile (Dactylomegachile) sp_1, Anthodioctes claudii, Megachile sp₁ and Megachile sp₂. Megachile (Austramegamegachile) fiebrigi, Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti and Megachile (Moureapis) sp₁ were the rare species. Swamp habitat yielded the greatest abundance and diversity of bee species. The similarity between this habitat and grassland, in relation to their species abundance and also to their species presence-absence, was the greatest.

Key words: solitary bees / community / biocenosis / species diversity / trap-nest / Apoidea

Corresponding author: Maria Luisa Tunes Buschini isatunes@yahoo.com.br

© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2005