Distribuição de ninhos de abelhas Xylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em uma área de dunas litorâneas

Abstract

The spatial distribution, density and the types of the substrates used by Xylocopa (Megaxylocopa) frontalis Olivier, X. (Schoenherria) subcyanea Pérez and X. (Neoxylocopa) cearensis Ducke, in a sea coastal sand dune, in Bahia, Brazil, were determined. Both the substrate available and those effectively used by the bees for nesting have a clumped spatial distribution. The distribution of the nesting sites could be related to the clumped spatial distribution of the available substrates. The highest occurrence of nests was found of a living individual of Agaristha revoluta (Spr.) DC, which was the substrate predominantly available. The density of available substrates and the density of nesting sites were 12.4/ha and 4.4/ha, respectively.