Analyses on Stored Pollen in Melipona Scutellaris and Tetragonisca Angustula Nests Shows Different Pollen Spectra.

Abstract Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are the most diverse group of social bees, widely distributed in tropical regions. Beekeeping of Meliponini, meliponiculture, hold significant ecological and economic importance. In meliponaries, multiple species often share small foraging areas, a phenomenon less common in natural environments. Due to deforestation, Meliponini bees face a decreasing availability of natural nesting sites, frequently built in hollow spaces in tree trunks. Thus, meliponaries provide essential nesting structures for these bees. In this study, we investigated whether two distinct stingless bee species - Melipona (Michmelia) scutellaris Latreille, 1811; and Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) - share pollen resources when reared in close proximity in a place with high density of nests, which could lead to competition. Our findings indicate that these bee species utilize different pollen sources. Their daily activity periods outside the nest differ, resulting in varying responses to fluctuations in temperature and air humidity. Results suggest that competition for pollen resources may not be a significant factor between the two bee species in such situations.