Large Trees in Tropical Dry Forest Facilitate the Presence of Stingless Bee Nests (Apidae: Meliponini): The Case of Ficus crocata

Abstract

Stingless bees are a crucial pollinator group for the functioning of tropical ecosystems. While most species nest in tree cavities, the importance of different tree species for nesting bees remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated Ficus crocata as a nesting site for stingless bees in a tropical dry forest within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica. Additionally, we recorded the presence of nests in other tree species around F. crocata. We examined correlations between tree size (diameter at breast height, DBH) and the presence of nests, the number of nests, and the richness of stingless bee species. Our results indicate that F. crocata is an important nesting resource, with 85.7% of stingless bee nests found in trees of this species. Regardless of the tree species, DBH was positively correlated with nest presence, nest abundance, and the richness of stingless bee species. Of the eight stingless bee species identified, Tetragonisca angustula was the most frequent. Up to three stingless bee species were observed nesting in a single tree, with a maximum of seven nests in an individual F. crocata. Other tree species: Gliricidia sepium, Guazuma ulmifolia, and Simarouba glauca also harbored unique stingless bee species, although less frequently. These results highlight the ecological importance of large trees – particularly F. crocata –in providing critical nesting sites for stingless bees in tropical dry forests. Therefore, conserving large trees is essential for maintaining nesting resources and supporting stingless bee diversity in these ecosystems.