Aspectos da biologia de nidificação de Euplusia mussitans (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini)

Abstract

The architecture and biology of Euplusia mussitans (Fabricius, 1787) nests were investigated, using trap nests made by wood, which were randomly distributed in a fragment of a coastal sand dunes, in Salvador, Bahia. Brazil (12º56'S and 38º21'W). 10 nests were found in cavities with 1.5 cm in diameter. From them emerged 10 females and 16 males (Sex ratio = 0,38). The nest cells were made of small pieces of bark cemented together with resin. The number of cells in the nests varied from 2 to 4, with females cells at the inner end and males cells towards the entrance. No significant difference was observed (t= 0.7274, P > 0.05) between the medium size for males (6.3 mm ± 0.16) and for females (6.4 mm ± 0.29). The development time of females was longer than males.