Register of a new nidification substrate for Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini): The arboreal nest of the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

Abstract

The bee species Melipona subnitida Ducke is the most frequently domesticated bee in the dry northeastern part of Brazil. Like most other stingless bee species, M. subnitida nests in hollow spaces in trees. However, in a small region of Chapada do Araripe plateau (Ceará State of Brazil) the nest of this bee can also regularly be found inside living arboreal termite nests of Constrictotermes cyphergaster Silvestri. Here we describe the structure and content of such a bee nest when we transferred it from a formerly collected termite nest into a wooden nest box, and complement with information based on an untouched, feral nest. We hypothesize whether or not this nesting habit of M. subnitida is an adaptation to shortage of pre-existing cavities in trees locally.