Foral Preference and Flower Constancy of a Brazilian Stingless Bee, Nannotrigona testaceicornis Kept in a Greenhouse (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Authors

Luci Rolandi Bego
Yasuo Maeta
Toshiyuki Tezuka

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture

Volume

23

Issue

23

Publisher

Shimane University

Publication Date

1-1-1989

First Page

46

Last Page

54

Abstract

Flower-visiting behavior of a Brazilian stingless bee, Nannotrigona testaceicornis studied experimentally in a greenhouse showed its typical generalist tendency at the colony level, visiting 15 out of 25 species of offered flowers. At the individual level, however, most foragers tended to visit a limited number of flower species continuously, even though other flowering plants were available. Such constancy was maintained for successive trips within a day (almost 80% in all marked bees), but was less among days. Switching was induced by the flower dearth of the so far utilized plants and casual exploitation of new plants by foragers.

Recommended Citation

Bego, Luci Rolandi; Maeta, Yasuo; and Tezuka, Toshiyuki, "Foral Preference and Flower Constancy of a Brazilian Stingless Bee, Nannotrigona testaceicornis Kept in a Greenhouse (Hymenoptera, Apidae)" (1989). Ba. Paper 36.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ba/36