Oxytrigona tataira (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) as a collector of honeydew from Erechtia carinata (Funkhouser) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) on Caryocar brasiliense Cambessédes (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) in the Brazilian Savanna

Abstract

Trophobiont insects are of general interest to behavioral ecology due to the fact that the outcomes of their interactions with hymenopterans can result in strong facultative mutualisms. In this paper we present observations of Oxytrigona tataira (Smith) collecting honeydew from Erechtia carinata (Funkhouser) on Caryocar brasiliense Cambessédes in a cerrado sensu stricto fragment from Brazilian Savanna. Our observations showed that these bees stimulate E. carinata individuals touching them with the antennas in the gaster to collect honeydew. O. tataira has not been previously recorded collecting honeydew on E. carinata. Thus, we present these observations as a novel bee-treehopper interaction.