Search

Abelhas sem ferrão são insetos nativos brasileiros e que desempenham um elevado potencial polinizador para inúmeras culturas agrícolas e plantas nativas. Tetragonisca angustula é uma das espécies mais manejadas pelos meliponicultores, deste modo, conhecer estrutura genética dessas populações é de grande importância, principalmente, para futuros projetos de conservação. Para isso, neste estudo foi realizado a caracterização bioquímica e a relação genética por eletroforese das isoenzimas esterase (EST), isocitrato desidrogenase (IDH), enzima málica (ME) e malato desidrogenase (MDH). Abelhas adultas foram coletadas em meliponários de Maringá e Astorga na região Noroeste do estado do Paraná, Brasil. T. angustula de Maringá apresentou dois locos polimórficos (22,22%) e oito locos polimórficos foram observados em T. angustula de Astorga (88,89%). A heterozigosidade média estimada para T. angustula foi de 0,1260. O valor de FIS foi de 0,4036 e indicou um excesso de homozigose. O valor FIT mostrou que as duas populações não foram diferenciadas, sem nenhum fluxo gênico entre elas. Os resultados sugerem a mesma origem para as duas populações de acordo com a distância genética de Nei. Palavras-chaves: Eletroforese. Caracterização Genética. Genética de Populações. Isoenzimas. Tetragonisca angustula. Abstract Stingless bees are native Brazilian insects and have a high pollinating potential for countless agricultural crops and native plants. Tetragonisca angustula bees are one of the species most managed by honey farmers and knowing about the genetic structure of these populations is of great importance, especially for future conservation projects. For this, the biochemical characterization and genetic relationship by electrophoresis of esterase (EST), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), malic enzyme (ME), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isozymes was analyzed. Adult bees were collected from meliponaries in Maringá and Astorga in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. T. angustula from Maringá presented two polymorphic loci (22.22%) and eight polymorphic loci were observed in T. angustula from Astorga (88.89%). Average heterozygosity estimated for T. angustula was 0.1260. FIS value was 0.4036 and indicated an excess of homozygous. FIT value showed that the two populations were not differentiated, without any gene flow between them. The results suggest the same origin for the two populations in agreement with Nei’s genetic distance. Keywords: Electrophoresis. Genetic Characterization. Isoenzymes. Population Genetics. Tetragonisca angustula.

Apis mellifera scutellata was introduced in Brazil in 1956. This subspecies originated from Africanized polyhybrid honey bees (A. mellifera), and quickly spread due to its high adaptability, reprod...

Bee colony health is declining as a result of several factors, including exposure to pesticides. The development and strength of honey bee colonies depend on the reproductive success of queen bees. Because flowers are sources of food for bees, foragers can accidentally collect and carry contaminated pollen and nectar to their hives; and this may compromise the longevity and the life span of individuals. Thus, the present study aimed to observe the action of imidacloprid in the midgut and ovaries of Apis mellifera queens, as well as the effects on sperm stored in their spermatheca. To this end, the apiary was divided into three experimental groups: control, commercial imidacloprid, and active ingredient imidacloprid. For toxicity assays, a sucrose solution containing 1 µg/L of imidacloprid was offered to the colonies for 42 days. A control group received only food in the same period. In both treatments with imidacloprid, the midgut of queens showed modifications in the external musculature and cellular alterations. Such changes could lead to the nonrecovery of the epithelium and subsequently malabsorption of nutrients. Moreover, the digestive cells of queen bees exposed to the commercial imidacloprid presented pyknotic nuclei, suggesting a cell death process. The main alterations observed in the ovaries of these reproductive bees treated with commercial imidacloprid were degeneration and resorption of the ovariole content, which probably affected their fertilization and colony development. There were no significant changes in the spermatozoa morphology for both treatments with imidacloprid, but this insecticide may interfere with the development and reproductive success of A. mellifera colonies because it affects the morphology and function of essential organs for the survival of queens. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1637-1648. SETAC.

Stingless Bees (SB) honey is a product used for different purposes, and it is worth highlighting the presence of metallic species, which can have a nutritional or toxic effect, depending on the metal present and/or the amount ingested. Therefore, the objective of this work was to quickly determine Fe, Mn, Mg and Ca in SB honey, using slurry sampling and FAAS of 88 honey samples from different regions of Brazil. The concentrations varied from Mg > Mn > Fe. Through the principal component analysis, it was verified that the SB honey analyzed in the present study has higher contents of the evaluated metals than the honey of the species Apis mellifera and SB honey from other Brazilian states. Theoretical calculation demonstrated that there is a little contribution of SB honey to human diet in relation to the metals, being more significative for Mn.

This research was carried out to evaluate the foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera and Scaptotrigona bipunctata and its relationship with environmental variables in Dombeya wallichii considering the following aspects: 1) Type of resource harvested, 2) Visitation rate, 3) Length of visit, 4) sugar concentration in the stored nectar in the honey crop of A. mellifera and secreted by the flower and 5) floral constancy. Both species collected mainly nectar, with a visitation rate of 4.2 flowers for A. mellifera and 1.1 flowers for S. bipunctata and visit length of 9.2 and 34.2 seconds, respectively. The sugar concentration had a positive relationship with temperature and luminosity, with mean values of 12.3% in the nectar and 14.2% in the honey crop. Bees were classified by specialists because the pollen of D. wallichii was predominant in the pollen basket, but the pollen of Emilia sonchifolia and Raphanus sativus was also found. These results suggest that the species under study take advantage of the resources offered by D. wallichii, therefore, this species is an important source for the maintenance of the bees in the season of lack of food.

Stingless bees are important pollinators for various plant crops. We investigated the susceptibility of Tetragonisca fiebrigi to sublethal concentrations of insecticides fipronil, malathion, and thiamethoxam (administered through contact and ingestion) by determining the LC50 values after 24 hours of exposure and analyzing changes in the activity of esterase isoenzymes and the chromatin in brain cells. The LC50 values showed that all three insecticides were highly toxic through contact and ingestion. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that the relative EST-4 (carboxylesterase) activity in T. fiebrigi was partially inhibited by malathion and fipronil ingestion. Moreover, the EST-4 band intensity was increased following high-concentration thiamethoxam (contact) exposure, indicating the increased relative activity of this isoenzyme to detoxify the compound. In the cytochemical analysis of brain cells, the critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) points for the control stingless bees and malathion ingestion-exposed and thiamethoxam-exposed (contact and ingestion) stingless bees were in the range of 0.20-0.30 M MgCl2, whereas that for malathion contact-exposed bees was 0.15 M MgCl2, indicating chromatin relaxation and suggesting an increase in gene expression. In conclusion, T. fiebrigi stingless bees are susceptible to the insecticides tested, and the parameters analyzed may be used as biomarkers to detect the presence of these compounds. Stingless bees are important pollinators for various plant crops. We investigated the susceptibility of Tetragonisca fiebrigi to sublethal concentrations of insecticides fipronil, malathion, and thiamethoxam (administered through contact and ingestion) by determining the LC50 values after 24 hours of exposure and analyzing changes in the activity of esterase isoenzymes and the chromatin in brain cells. The LC50 values showed that all three insecticides were highly toxic through contact and ingestion. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that the relative EST-4 (carboxylesterase) activity in T. fiebrigi was partially inhibited by malathion and fipronil ingestion. Moreover, the EST-4 band intensity was increased following high-concentration thiamethoxam (contact) exposure, indicating the increased relative activity of this isoenzyme to detoxify the compound. In the cytochemical analysis of brain cells, the critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) points for the control stingless bees and malathion ingestion-exposed and thiamethoxam-exposed (contact and ingestion) stingless bees were in the range of 0.20-0.30 M MgCl2, whereas that for malathion contact-exposed bees was 0.15 M MgCl2, indicating chromatin relaxation and suggesting an increase in gene expression. In conclusion, T. fiebrigi stingless bees are susceptible to the insecticides tested, and the parameters analyzed may be used as biomarkers to detect the presence of these compounds.

Tetragonisca angustula is the stingless bee more managed by beekeepers, whose honey has many medicinal properties and is distributed throughout Latin America. They have variation in color of mesepisternum and can be black, yellow or mixed. They might be classified into two species (T. angustula and T. fiebrigi) or two subspecies (T. angustula angustula and T. angustula fiebrigi). This study aimed study was to analyze the genetic variability of populations T. angustula sampled using the technique simple repeated sequences and to analyze the interaction of molecular markers used in other studies to verify the possible existence of a marker that distinguishes genetically. A total of 60 individuals were sampled in the cities of Maringá, Cianorte and Terra Boa, Paraná state, Southern Brazil. The results showed that all loci are polymorphic. The value of FST=0.1173 shows that populations are moderately differentiated and analysis of molecular variance indicates that 76% of the change occurs within the analyzed populations. The largest value of delta K obtained by Bayesian inference estimated the actual number of people equal to three. The analysis of interaction networks has shown that there are more interactions with isozymes, but none of them allowed separate T. angustula in two species. La Tetragonisca angustula popularmente conocida como “angelita”, es la abeja sin aguijón más manejada por los meliponicultores, ya que su miel tiene muchas propiedades medicinales, y se encuentra distribuida en toda América Latina. Morfológicamente presentan variación, principalmente por el color del mesepisterna, encontrándose colores negros, amarillos y mixtos. Se pueden clasificar en dos especies (T. angustula y T. fiebrigi) o subespecies (T. angustula angustula y T. angustula fiebrigi). El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la variabilidad genética de las poblaciones de T. angustula utilizando la técnica de secuencias repetidas simples (SSR) y la interacción de los marcadores moleculares para verificar la posible existencia de un marcador que distinga genéticamente cada una de las variedades. Se tomaron muestras de un total de 60 individuos (cinco por nido) en las ciudades de Maringá, Cianorte y Terra Boa, estado de Paraná, sur de Brasil. La variabilidad genética fue evaluada mediante el análisis de cuatro loci microsatélite. Los resultados demuestran que todos los loci son polimórficos. El valor de FST = 0.1173 muestra que las poblaciones están moderadamente diferenciadas y el análisis de la varianza molecular indica que 76 % del cambio ocurre dentro de las poblaciones analizadas. El mayor valor de delta K obtenido por inferencia bayesiana estimó el número real de individuos igual a tres. El análisis de las redes de interacción ha demostrado que hay más interacciones con las isoenzimas, pero ninguna de ellas permitió separar las dos especies de T. angustula. A Tetragonisca angustula é a abelha sem ferrão mais manejada pelos meliponicultores, cujo mel apresenta diversas propriedades medicinais e está amplamente distribuída pela América Latina. Esta abelha apresenta variação na coloração de uma parte do tórax denominada mesepisterno que pode ser preto, amarelo ou misto, sendo classificada em duas espécies (T. angustula e T. fiebrigi) ou duas subespécies (T. angustula angustula e T. angustula fiebrigi). Diversos estudos têm sido realizados com o objetivo de elucidar essa questão taxonômica utilizando-se de marcadores genéticos, como a técnica de locos de sequências simples repetidas (SSR), que permite a análise da estrutura e divergência genética populacional, possibilitando caracterizar as populações amostradas. Um total de 60 indivíduos (cinco por ninho) foram amostrados em Maringá, Cianorte e Terra Boa, estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. O acesso a variabilidade genética foi realizado pela análise de quatro locos de microssatélites. Os resultados mostraram que todos os locos apresentaram-se polimórficos. O valor de FST­ = 0,1173 obtido mostra que as populações estão moderadamente diferenciadas e a análise de variância molecular indica que 76% da variação ocorre dentro das populações analisadas. O maior valor de delta K obtido por inferência Bayesiana estimou o número real de populações igual a 3 (K=3). A análise das redes de interações permitiu verificar que existem mais interações com os marcadores isoenzimáticos, mas que nenhum dos marcadores moleculares analisados permitiu separar T. angustula em duas espécies.

This study was carried out to evaluate human consumption of the pollen of Scaptotrigona bipunctata colonies stored in pots; it was lyophilized and spray-dried in arrays of arabic gum and hydrolyzed collagen which have been widely applied to get products with best technological features and highest biological activity. After the samples were prepared they were evaluated by physicochemical analysis, and the data were compared. S. bipunctata pollen lyophilized had product with higher antiradical activity than the pollen dried using spray dryer which only quantified the antioxidant activity of the antioxidant compound that was encapsulated and stabilized in the solid matrix material. Key words: Biological activity, encapsulated pollen, lyophilized pollen, phenolic profile, stingless bees.

Understanding specific meteorological factors that affect the foraging activity of pollinator insects can provide valuable information to ensure appropriate levels of pollination of crops. This research was carried out to verify the spectrum of pollinating insects and their foraging behavior in relation to specific meteorological variables in the Brassica napus (rapeseed) crop. Data collected consisted of the following observations: number of visits by each pollinator, floral resources collected by Africanized honeybee Apis mellifera L., number of flowers visited by Africanized honeybees in 1 min, number of flowers visited by Africanized honeybees in one specific plant during the timed observation of 1 min, and the time taken by the honeybees to visit each flower. In this study the analyses were made through different generalized linear models. The Africanized honeybees were the most abundant pollinating insects (88%) and most visitors were observed collecting nectar (90%). The Africanized honeybees visited a total of 12.9 ± 1.40 flowers in 1 min and 2.96 ± 1.09 flowers of a single plant in 1 min. The time the honeybees spent on the rapeseed flowers was 4.2 ± 1.6 s. The number of floral visitors correlated closely to the variation of abiotic factors, especially temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. Africanized honeybees were more active at different times of the day as compared to the other floral visitors and they foraged more intensely on the Hyola 433 hybrid than on the Hyola 61 hybrid. The Hyola 61 hybrid was more attractive to Diabrotica speciosa and Lepidoptera.

Honeybees are the insect most used for pollination purposes due to its efficient characteristics for this function, which reflects in positive aspects for both nature and man. The expansion of agriculture and the development of agrochemicals to combat pests has had negative impacts on honeybee health, causing its disappearance around the world. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of honeybee exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam on its survival rate, as well as on morphological and histological changes in the midgut of adult workers from the F4 generation of Apis mellifera queens tolerant to thiamethoxam and non-tolerant worker honeybees. After the bioassays, the midgut was removed for morphological evaluation. The results showed that F4 bees were more tolerance to thiamethoxam and exhibited less significant morphological changes when compared to the non-tolerant control group. Las abejas son el insecto más utilizado con fines de polinización por sus características eficientes para esta función, lo que se refleja en aspectos positivos tanto para la naturaleza como para el hombre. La expansión de la agricultura y el desarrollo de agroquímicos para combatir plagas ha tenido impactos negativos en la salud de las abejas, provocando su desaparición en todo el mundo. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos de la exposición de las abejas melíferas al insecticida neonicotinoide tiametoxam sobre su tasa de supervivencia, así como sobre los cambios morfológicos e histológicos en el intestino medio de trabajadores adultos de la generación F4 de reinas Apis mellifera tolerantes al tiametoxam y trabajadoras no tolerantes abejas. Después de los bioensayos, se extrajo el intestino medio para evaluación morfológica. Los resultados mostraron que las abejas F4 eran más tolerantes al tiametoxam y exhibían cambios morfológicos menos significativos en comparación con el grupo de control no tolerante. A abelha melífera é o inseto mais utilizado para fins de polinização devido às suas características eficientes para esta função, o que se reflete em aspectos positivos tanto para a natureza quanto para o homem. A expansão da agricultura e o desenvolvimento de agroquímicos para combater as pragas tiveram impactos negativos na saúde das abelhas, causando seu desaparecimento em todo o mundo. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da exposição das abelhas ao inseticida neonicotinoide tiametoxam sobre sua taxa de sobrevivência, bem como sobre as alterações morfológicas e histológicas do intestino médio de operárias adultas da geração F4 de Apis mellifera rainhas tolerantes ao tiametoxam e trabalhadoras não tolerantes abelhas. Após os bioensaios, o intestino médio foi removido para avaliação morfológica. Os resultados mostraram que as abelhas F4 foram mais tolerantes ao tiametoxam e exibiram alterações morfológicas menos significativas quando comparadas ao grupo controle não tolerante.

Interaction between bees and plants ensured success in cross-pollination crops, increasing the vigor of the species, as the production of fruits and seeds. Bees are the main pollinators of angiosperms and several crops. Among the factors related to the disappearance of bees in agricultural areas is the excessive or improper use of insecticides. However, agriculture is extremely dependent on pesticides for pest control and the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam is one of the most used insecticides. The use of these chemicals affects the pollinating bee Apis mellifera. Thus, the aim of the study was to select Africanized A. mellifera queens tolerant to thiamethoxam, producing four generations of bees kept in chronic contamination and perform tests to validate tolerance. Colonies of A. mellifera were subjected to chronic contamination by contact with thiamethoxam at a sublethal concentration of 1.65 mg a.i./L. From the surviving colonies, four generations of new queens were produced, kept in chronic contamination with thiamethoxam. Chronic contamination caused changes in the workers' behavior for 25 days. Validation of selection and tolerance was performed in vitro bioassays to verify mortality and critical electrolyte concentration (CEC). In vitro bioassays showed that there was low mortality after contamination for 24 hours by contact with thiamethoxam at 82.5 mg a.i / L. The analyzes of CEC indicate that there was an increase in gene expression in brain cells, probably as an attempt to detoxify the workers' organism by contamination with thiamethoxam. New tests need to be carried out with colonies tolerant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, but these initial results indicate that these queens have potential to tolerate this neonicotinoid.

Cultivated areas of soybean in Brazil have been increasing with each harvest and the seed market is moving in the same direction, launching new varieties every year. To increase not only planted area but also productivity, it is necessary to use technologies and use integration systems. In this study, the effect of pollination by honeybees on two soybean varieties in two consecutive years was evaluated. Three treatments were established: cages with Apis mellifera honeybees, cages without bees and free areas for insect visitation. The results showed an increase 6.45% of soybean yield in areas with free access to insect visitation. While in the cages with the introduction of Africanized honeybee colonies the increase was 13.64%. These results indicate that even in the most recent cultivars, cross pollination can show productivity gains even in an autogamous species.

The objective was to evaluate the behavior ofApis melliferaandTetragonisca angustulabees in pollination tests inBrassica napusat different times of the day, temperature and relative humidity. The experimental design was completely with eight treatments and two pollination tests, repeated in five randomized blocks during seven days of observations for two years, totaling 560 records. During the visits, the following parameters were recorded: collected resources, nectar collection site, time spent on flower, number of flowers visited in one minute, pollen load in the pollen basket and bee contact with anthers and stigma. Data were analyzed using generalized linear models. The number of Africanized andT. angustulabees collecting nectar increased with the passage of time throughout the day and with the decrease of relative humidity. The same was observed for nectar collection in both nectaries. The proportion of bees collecting pollen was higher in the morning hours, as well as when there was an increase in temperature for the two species of bees. Foraging behavior ofA. melliferainB. napuscrop favored its pollination, indifferent of which collected floral resource as they came into contact with anthers and stigma.T. angustulabees performed pollination only during pollen collection. Pollination ofB. napuswas more effective in the warmer hours of the morning, when more of both species of bees carried out pollen collection. Due to its foraging behavior,A. melliferahad greater efficiency for pollination ofB. napus; however, the association with T. angustulamay potentiate the benefits generated for the crop by cross-pollination.

Efficient honey production requires knowledge about the behavior of the workers and the parameters that influence the strength of the colony. In this study, the objective was to analyze the interaction between the foraging behavior of worker honeybees and pollen storage levels in Africanized honeybees colonies. Colonies with low pollen storage increased pollen intake rates, but this value was 15% lower than colonies with high pollen storage, demonstrating a direct relationship between the pollen storage levels and foraging activity. The difference in pollen intake rates varied according to the number of foraging honeybees and pollen load collected by each individual. Under both high and low pollen storage, colonies returned pollen storage to initial level within 16 days, suggesting that honeybees regulate pollen storage levels around a homeostatic set point. Relationship between pollen storage levels and colony brood production was also found, indicating how alterations in the behavior of each individual can affect the strength of the colony.

Genetic improvement in beekeeping is mainly focused on increasing the productivity of various bee products, however, when thinking in terms of breeding, it is necessary to produce queen bees and to applicate selection in bee colonies. Even with the development of methods and technologies, there are few practical applications in the apiary. Thus, the aim of this study is to synthesize and disseminate the knowledge about the biology and behavior of queen bees, with further focus on the production of queens, as well as the instrumental insemination and selection, as tools for breeding programs. With the release of this knowledge it is expected that their application would improve the quality and quantity of bee products, keeping the colony with a selected queen, young and vigorous.

The neonicotinoid thiamethoxam is widely used in different agricultural crops, and it has a spectrum of action against insects, affecting both pests and pollinators, such as bees. In this study, the effects of exposure to sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam on stingless bees Scaptotrigona bipunctata were evaluated. Foragers bees were exposed to the insecticide and subjected to genetic biochemical, histochemical, and morphological analyses after 24, 48, and 72 h of ingestion. Analysis of isoenzyme esterases revealed significant alterations in the relative activity of EST-4, a type II cholinesterase. Evaluation of the S. bipunctata brain revealed changes in the state of chromatin condensation according to the exposure time and concentration of neonicotinoid compared with the control. Morphological changes were observed in the midgut of this species at all concentrations and exposure times, which may interfere with various physiological processes of these insects. We can conclude that, although thiamethoxam at the concentrations evaluated did not cause high mortality, it induced concentration-dependent changes in bees by activating enzymes related with the protection for xenobiotic, internal morphology and probably these changes may lead to alterations in the activity of bees.

It is important to select the best honeybees that produce royal jelly to identify important molecular markers, such as major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and hence contribute to the development of new breeding strategies to improve the production of this substance. Therefore, this study focused on evaluating the genetic variability of mrjp3, mrjp5, and mrjp8 and associated allele maintenance during the process of selective reproduction in Africanized Apis mellifera individuals, which were chosen based on royal jelly production. The three loci analyzed were polymorphic, and produced a total of 16 alleles, with 4 new alleles, which were identified at mrjp5. The effective number of alleles at mrjp3 was 3.81. The observed average heterozygosity was 0.4905, indicating a high degree of genetic variability at these loci. The elevated FIS values for mrjp3, mrjp5, and mrjp8 (0.4188, 0.1077, and 0.2847, respectively) indicate an excess of homozygotes. The selection of Africanized A. mellifera queens for royal jelly production has maintained the mrjp3 C, D, and E alleles; although, the C allele occurred at a low frequency. The heterozygosity and FIS values show that the genetic variability of the queens is decreasing at the analyzed loci, generating an excess of homozygotes. However, the large numbers of drones that fertilize the queens make it difficult to develop homozygotes at mrjp3. Mating through instrumental insemination using the drones of known genotypes is required to increase the efficiency of Africanized A. mellifera-breeding programs, and to improve the quality and efficiency of commercial royal jelly apiaries.

Royal jelly is an important apiarian product for honeybees and has been used as an important ingredient to human health and healthy life style. Because of its wide use, there is great demand in their production. As royal jelly is a secretion of the cephalic glands of bees and it is produced at a certain age of the workers, it is necessary to perform the selection of producing queens to increase the amount produced. The employment of molecular markers is a tool that can be used to identify the genotypes of the best producers. Among the molecular markers, one of them called MRJP3 (Major Royal Jelly Protein 3) has been used in the Program of Improvement of Apis mellifera Royal Jelly Producing (PIAMRJP), State University of Maringa, Brazil. This molecular marker has been efficient in genotyping queens’ royal jelly producers. Combined with classical breeding studies, the selection of queens assisted by MRJP3 marker has allowed to keep the selected genotypes for royal jelly production since 2006 (10 years). In this chapter, we present the main aspects of royal jelly, the hypopharyngeal glands, the major proteins of royal jelly and how it can be used as molecular markers.

The purpose of this study was to verify and compare the main contamination sources and the hygienic/sanitary conditions of organic honey samples of Apis mellifera from Parana River islands. Thirty-three (33) samples were analyzed between January 2005 and August 2006. Eleven (11) samples were collected by beekeepers and twenty-two (22) samples were collected and processed in accordance with ideal personal hygiene norms and good manufacturing practices. The samples underwent microbiological analysis in search of coliforms at 35 ºC and 45 ºC, as well as fungi enumeration analysis. As for fungi counting, the samples harvested by beekeepers showed values above the maximum established by Resolution nº 15/94 of Common Market Group - Mercosul. The results showed that secondary contamination sources are responsible for the reduction of organic honey quality.

The Meliponinae are important pollinators of plant species, and one of the most managed species is Tetragonisca angustula. Initially, two subspecies were identified in T. angustula: T. angustula angustula and T. angustula fiebrigi. Subsequently, T. a. fiebrigi was considered a species, based on the coloration of its mesepisternum. The objective of the present study was to obtain genetic markers that could differentiate the two species by amplifying regions of mitochondrial DNA and conducting polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Worker bees were collected in three Brazilian states: Parana (Maringa, Altonia, and Foz do Iguacu), Sao Paulo (Dracena, Sao Carlos, and Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo), and Rondonia (Ariquemes). Ten pairs of insect heterologous primers were tested and four were used (primer pair 1, ND2 and COI; primer pair 2, COI; primer pair 8, 16S and 12S; and primer pair 9, COII). For the restriction analysis, 13 enzymes were tested: EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII, HinfI, RsaI, PstI, XbaI, HaeIII, ClaI, XhoI, BglII, PvuII, and ScaI. Markers were obtained (primer pair 8 cleaved with EcoRV and XbaI and primer pair 9 cleaved with HaeIII, RsaI, and XbaI) that enabled matrilineage identification in the nests studied, which confirmed that hybridization could occur between both Tetragonisca species. The beginning of speciation was probably recent, and secondary contact has resulted in crosses between T. angustula females and T. fiebrigi males. Because of this hybridization, it would be appropriate to consider them as two subspecies of T. angustula.

O objetivo foi avaliar a produção de geléia real em colônias de abelhas Apis mellifera, em comparação às africanizadas selecionadas para a produção de geléia real, africanizadas selecionadas para mel com cárnicas híbridas. No experimento I, foram utilizadas 10 colônias de abelhas africanizadas após seleção, para produção de geléia real; as cinco melhores rainhas foram substituídas por suas filhas e, nas restantes, foram introduzidas rainhas cárnicas, para avaliação da produção após troca da população. No experimento II, foram utilizadas 15 colônias, cinco com rainhas africanizadas selecionadas para a produção de mel (AFML), cinco selecionadas para a produção de geléia real (AFGR) e cinco cárnicas híbridas (CAHB). No experimento I, as cárnicas híbridas apresentaram maior produção de geléia real/colônia/coleta (3,95 ± 2,92 g) que as africanizadas (2,23 ± 2,13 g). As cárnicas foram superiores quanto à porcentagem de aceitação de larvas (55,4 ± 36,7%) às africanizadas (35,8 ± 28,3%). Quanto à produção de geléia real/colônia/coleta (g), no experimento II, as abelhas AFML foram significativamente superiores (4,42 ± 2,67 g) às CAHB (3,30 ± 1,85 g) e às AFGR (3,71 ± 2,13 g), que não diferiram das anteriores. Ambas as africanizadas, AFML e AFGR, produziram mais geléia real por cúpula (254,2 ± 90,7 e 253,8 ± 206,8 g, respectivamente) que as CAHB (195,8 ± 80,9 g). This study was conducted to compare royal jelly production from colonies of Apis mellifera Africanized honeybees selected for yields of royal jelly or honey with that from Carniolan hybrids. In the first trial, 10 colonies of Africanized honeybees selected for royal jelly production were used; the top five queens were replaced with their offspring and in the remaining colonies were introduced Carniolan queens in order to evaluate production after switch of population. In the second trial, 15 colonies were used as follows: five with Africanized queens selected for honey yield (AFHO), five with Africanized queens selected for royal jelly yield (AFRJ), and five with Carniolan hybrids (CAHB). In trial one, Carniolan hybrids showed greater royal jelly production/colony/collection (3.95 ± 2.92 g) when compared to Africanized honeybees (2.23 ± 2.13 g). In addition, Carniolan hybrids had higher acceptance percentage of grafted larvae (55.4 ± 36.7) than the Africanized counterparts (35.8 ± 28.3). In trial two, yield of royal jelly/colony/collection was significantly higher on AFHO compared to AFRJ and CAHB that did not differ in production. Both Africanized honeybees (AFHO = 254.2 ± 90.7 g and AFRJ = 253.8 ± 206.8 g) produced more royal jelly per cup than CAHB that yielded 195.8 ± 80.9 g.

Investigations were carried out to evaluate Africanized and Carniolan hybrid Apis mellifera honeybees in royal jelly production. Ten colonies were randomly collected in nature and housed in Langstroth beehives. Each hive was having two nuclei with five frames. In superior nucleus frame was containing 28 acrylic cups in two bars. The five colonies with the best production remained in the experiment and their queens replaced by the respective daughters. Carniolan queens were placed in the five Africanized honeybees colonies with lower production. The hybrid Carniolan showed a higher production (P=0.0001) of royal jelly per colony, in three-day collect (3.95 ± 2.92 g) when compared to the Africanized honeybees (2.23 ± 2.13 g). The Carniolan also had a higher percentage of larvae acceptance (55.45 ± 36.7%) compared to the Africanized honeybees (35.8 ± 28.3%).O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas e cárnicas híbridas quanto à produção de geléia real. Foram utilizadas 10 colônias de abelhas africanizadas coletadas ao acaso na natureza e alojadas em colméias do tipo Langstroth, mini-recrias, com quadro porta-cúpulas que possuíam 28 cúpulas de acrílico, sendo 14 em cima e 14 em baixo. As cinco colônias africanizadas com maior produção permaneceram no experimento e suas rainhas foram substituídas pelas respectivas filhas e nas cinco colônias de africanizadas com as menores produções foram introduzidas rainhas cárnicas. As cárnicas híbridas apresentaram uma maior (P=0,0001) produção de geléia real/colônia/coleta, 3,95 ± 2,92 g, em relação às africanizadas 2,23 ± 2,13 g. As cárnicas foram superiores (P=0,0001) quanto à porcentagem de aceitação de larvas, 55,4 ± 36,7%, em relação às africanizadas, 35,8 ± 28,3%.

The present study was carried out to survey the bees as visitors to melliferous flora in the region of Maringá, state of Paraná, Brazil. A total of 331 insects were captured, and the fauna comprised 39.88% Trigona spinipes, 38.37% Apis mellifera, 8.16% Tetragonisca angustula, 3.93% Halictidae, 1.21% Megachilidae, 2.42% Anthophoridae, and 3.32% other Hymenoptera. Eleven plant species from nine families were observed. The four families most frequently visited by A. mellifera were Pontederiaceae (93.53%), Sterculiaceae and Polygoniaceae (47.22%), Apocynaceae and Apiaceae (42.86%). The families most visited by T. spinipes were Lamiaceae (64.70%), Apocynaceae (57.14%), Sterculiaceae (51.85%) and Anacardiaceae (48.39%), and the families most visited by T. angustula were (28.57%), Asteraceae (22.22%) and Labiatae (16.47%). Three species predominated in number of bee visits Dombeya wallichii (32.63%), Ocimum americanum (15.5%) and Antigonon leptopus (15.2%). T. angustula was the most frequent visitor of O. gratissimum flowers (60.87%).As abelhas sem ferrão são responsáveis por cerca de 30-90% da reprodução dos vegetais nas florestas tropicais, através do mecanismo de polinização, na fecundação cruzada (Kerr et al. , 1994). Esse trabalho teve o objetivo de realizar um levantamento de angiospermas e os insetos que as polinizam na região de Maringá, PR, com o intuito de contribuir com o entendimento da biodiversidade dessa região. As abelhas foram coletadas entre agosto de 1999 a janeiro de 2000, com o auxílio de uma rede entomológica, durante suas visitas às flores. As coletas foram semanais. Foram coletados 331 insetos, dos quais 39,88% eram Trigona spinipes, 38,37% Apis mellifera, 8,16% Tetragonisca angustula, 3,93% Halictidae, 1,21% Megachilidae, 2,42% Anthophoridae e 3,32% de outros Hymenoptera. Foram observadas 11 espécies vegetais pertencentes a nove famílias. As quatro famílias mais visitadas pelas abelhas A. mellifera foram Pontederiaceae - 93,55%, Lamiaceae - 55,56%, Sterculiaceae e Polygoniaceae - 47,22%; por T. spinipes foram Lamiaceae - 63,95%, Apocynaceae - 57,14%, Sterculiaceae - 51,85% e Anacardiaceae - 48,39% e por T. Angustula, Lamiaceae - 60,87%, Apiaceae - 28,57%, Anacardiaceae - 16,13% e Asteraceae - 12,50%. Três espécies vegetais foram predominantes em número de visitas pelas abelhas, concentrando 61,7% das visitas, destacando-se: Dombeya wallichii (32,63%), Ocimum americanum (16,31%) e Antigonon leptopus (10,88%). T. angustula foi o visitante mais freqüente (60,87%) em O. gratissimum.

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido para caracterizar a microbiota do mel produzido nas ilhas Floresta e Laranjeira do alto rio Paraná, na região de Porto Brasílio, Paraná (PR). O mel foi coletado diretamente das melgueiras das colônias avaliadas, em três apiários distribuídos nas ilhas Floresta e Laranjeira. O período de coleta das amostras de mel foi de novembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006, perfazendo o total de 24 amostras de mel orgânico produzido por abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas. Seguindo o método das normas internacionais da Compendium of Methods for the Microbiology Examination of Foods, os parâmetros analisados foram: presença de coliformes a 35°C e 45°C e quantificação de bolores e leveduras. Verificou-se que todas as amostras apresentaram-se em conformidade com o Regulamento Técnico MERCOSUL de Identidade e Qualidade do Mel (MERCOSUL/GMC/RES no 15/94). As amostras analisadas indicaram excelente qualidade microbiológica para o mel orgânico. This research was carried out to characterize the microbial flora of the organic honey produced in Paraná River islands. The honey was directly collected in the evaluated colonies, in three apiaries distributed at Floresta and Laranjeira Islands. The collection period was from November 2005 to February 2006. It was evaluated 24 organic honey samples produced by Africanized honeybees. Following the international standard Compendium method for the Microbiology Examination of Foods, the analyzed parameters used were: presence of coliforms at 35°C and 45°C, and molds and yeasts quantification. All samples were in conformity with the MERCOSUL Technical Regulation Identity and Quality for Honey (MERCOSUL/GMC/RES no. 15/94. The analyzed samples indicated excellent microbiologic honey quality.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplements with isolated soy protein, brewer’s yeast, a mixture of isolated soy protein with brewer’s yeast, linseed oil, palm oil and mixture of linseed oil with palm oil in the royal jelly production of Africanized honey bee colonies. Total royal jelly produced was superior (P < 0.05) in colonies that were fed with isolated soy protein and brewer’s yeast (11.68g/colony), followed by linseed oil and palm oil (11.30g/colony) and palm oil (9.61g/colony), and the latter higher than controls I (6.35g/colony), and II (6.95g/colony). Thus, mixed supplements are viable to optimize this beekeeping activity in commercial scale.

Financial viability in royal jelly production with Africanized honey bees supplemented with different nutrients. This study was carried out to evaluate the financial viability of five supplements made with different sources of oil and protein, to be given to Africanized honeybees for royal jelly production. The study verified whether the investments with colony supplementation give financial returns to beekeepers, increasing profits for the diversification of bee products. In order to evaluate the five supplements, two experimental assays were performed. In each, 20 colonies were distributed randomly in four treatments, with 15 replications per colony. In assay I, the treatments were: linseed oil plus palm oil supplement, linseed oil, palm oil, and control without supplementation. In assay II, isolated soy protein plus brewer's yeast, isolated soy protein, brewer's yeast, and control without supplementation were evaluated. The following production financial indicators were determined: net operating income, total cost, profit and benefit-cost ratio. Supplements made with mixtures of linseed oil plus palm oil and isolated soy protein plus beer yeast showed ratios between the obtained profit and the calculated values for indirect production costs of 2.58 and 2.50, respectively, differing from the control (p < 0.05), which indicates it is economically viable to supplement Africanized honey bees in royal jelly production when compared to other treatments and control without supplementation.

Influence of africanized honeybees on sugar concentration in the nectar of soybean ( Glycine max L. Merrill) var. Coodetec 207. This research was carried out to evaluate the sugar concentration in soybean nectar in areas with Africanized honeybee colonies. The var. Coodetec 207 was used in four treatments: 24 m 2 covered area with Africanized honeybee colony inside, semi-covered area for free insect visitation, uncovered area, and covered area without insect visitation. Flowers were harvested for three days at two-hour intervals, and the total sugar concentration per flower was determined by spectrophotometry. The covered area with Africanized honeybee colony presented higher sugar concentration than the covered area without insect visitation; however, the sugar concentration in the uncovered area did not differ from the concentration observed in the covered area without honeybees. There was a reduction in the average of sucrose concentration in the uncovered area, different from concentrations in other areas. The glucose concentration did not differ among treatments, whereas fructose did not differ between the areas covered with honeybees, semi-covered and uncovered area. The soybean var. Coodetec 207 presented higher total sugar and fructose concentrations in the covered area with honeybee colonies. However, the presence of Apis mellifera did not influence this sugar concentration in the nectar of soybean flowers of this variety.

This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of proteic supplement on royal jelly production in honeybee colonies and its correlation with environmental variables. The treatments were: colonies that had received a diet formulated with 35% crude protein, colonies that had received a commercial supplement with 35% crude protein, and colonies that did not receive protein diet. There was no difference (p > 0.05) among the treatments for parameters of production. The average for each variable was: amount accepted larvae, 8.56 ± 6.76; acceptance percentage, 29.20 ± 22.03%; amount of royal jelly produced per colony, 1.83 ± 0.82 g; and amount of royal jelly produced per cup, 213.58 ± 108.36 mg. Rainfall did not affect (p > 0.05) royal jelly production. The selected models point to a negative correlation among larvae accepted with the maximum temperature and low relative humidity. Larvae acceptance and royal jelly production per cup had a positive correlation with the maximum relative humidity and negative correlation with the minimum relative humidity. It can be concluded that the addition of proteic supplement (35%) did not increase royal jelly production of Africanized honeybee colonies, and its use for this purpose was unprofitable

This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of Africanized honeybees in grain production and seed quality of Glycine max (L.) Merrill Roundup Ready™ transgenic soy, as well as of conventional soy. Transgenic soy was interposed with conventional soybean, in 18 plots and three treatments: covered area with Africanized honeybees, covered area without honeybees, and uncovered area with free insect visitation. The herbicide Glyphosate was applied on three plots of each treatment of transgenic soy, 30 days after emergence. Grain production, number of pods/plant, weight per 100 seeds, and seed germination percentage were evaluated. There was no difference among cultivars; however, the production in the covered area with honeybees (2757.4 kg ha -1 ) and in the uncovered area (2828.47 kg ha -1 ) were higher than in the covered area without honeybees (2000.53 kg ha -1 ). The number of pods/plant was greater than in the covered area with honeybees (38.28) and in the uncovered area (32.65) as compared to the covered area without honeybees (21.19). The weight per 100 seeds seed germination did not differ among cultivars or treatments. It can be concluded that, for these cultivars, there was a rise in grain production of 37.84% when honeybee visits were allowed

This research was carried out to evaluate the growing of Africanized honeybee colonies from July 1999 to June 2000, as for the percentages of occupation area with brood,food, occupied total area, to correlate them with environmental variables and to determine the tenor of crude protein in the pollen stocked in the combs by workers. Five colonies were mapped monthly, which were made the counting of the occupied area with brood, food, occupied total area and also the pollen was collected and submitted to thebromatological analysis to determine the tenor of crude protein. The medium percentages of occupation with brood (egg-larvae plus workers pupa and drones), with food (honey and pollen) and of the occupied total area they were not also different among the treatments (p>0.05). The Africanized honeybee colonies reduced their population with low external temperatures (winter) and also with excess of relative humidity of the air (summer). Themedium tenor of crude protein in the pollen during the year was 24.51%, and this value isacceptable for a good development of the colonies.

This study evaluated the level of invasion of Varroa mite into worker brood cells, the infestation rate on adult worker honeybees, total and effective reproduction rates of the mite in Africanized honeybee colonies under royal jelly or honey production. Invasion and infestation rates were not statistically different between honeybee colonies producing honey or royal jelly and the averages for these parameters were 5.79 and 8.54%, respectively. Colonies producing honey presented a higher (p < 0.05) total and effective reproduction of Varroa than colonies producing royal jelly. There was a negative correlation between levels of invasion and infestation with minimum external temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The variables month and season influenced the development of the mite, but rates were low and within the range normally found in Brazil for Africanized honeybee colonies, which confirm the greater resistance of these honeybees to Varroa destructor than European honeybees.

Occurrence and collection of Africanized honeybee swarm and colonies on the urbane zone of Maringa, Parana State, Brazil. During the last years, a great number of swarms of Africanized honey bees migrated to the urban zone of Maringa, Parana State, Brazil, causing a great concern, mainly in those who live at home with children, elderly and allergic people. This study aimed to record and remove the colonies and swarms reported to the Animal Science Department at Universidade Estadual de Maringa from 1997 to 1999, in order to avoid possible problems caused by honey bees (Apis mellifera) to the community and use them for research and teaching purposes. 283 reports were recorded, being 226 (79.9%) colonies and 57 (20.1%) swarms. 191 (67.5%) of the total reports were collected, being 169 (88.5%) colonies and 22 (11.5%) swarms. The honeybees were generally located in roofs (123; 43.5%), boxes (64; 22.6%), floors (59; 20.8%) and trees (37; 13.1%).

This research was carried out to evaluate the floral biology of Ipomoea acuminata, I. batata, I. cairica and I. quamoclit in Maringa , state of Parana. Anthesis period, stigma receptivity, viability of the pollen grains and medium height of the style and filament were analyzed during the blossom period of Ipomoea . Both I. quamoclit and I. potato had their flowers opening at 6:00 a.m. and their closing at 2:00 p.m. The test of stigma receptivity demonstrated that I. quamoclit was receptive between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and I. batata between 6:35 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The period of higher viability of the pollen grains in I. quamoclit was the same of the stigma receptivity. In that species, there was a reduction in the frequency of viable grains of pollen next to the time of the flowers closing. There were highest frequencies of viable pollen grains in I. batata between 6:35 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.; the variations in the frequency of viability of the pollen grains keep along the day until the flowers closing. In I. acuminate , the medium height of the style was 27.245 ± 2.431 mm and the medium height of the filament was 26.439 ± 3.147 mm. In I. batata , the medium height of the style was 19.77 mm ± 1.956 mm that is higher than the medium height of the filament. The medium height of the style in I. cairica was 19.827 mm and the medium height of the filament was 17.952 mm. In I. quamoclit the medium height of the style and the medium height of the filament had both bigger and smaller height variations of the style. For that species the estimated differences between the medium height of the style at 8:30 a.m. and the filament 1 and 4; and between the medium height of the style at 10:30 a.m. and filament 3, 4 and 5 were significant. For I. batata the differences between the medium heights of the style and of the filament were significant

Siratro ( Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.) e uma planta forrageira com alto valor nutricional e excelente palatabilidade, sua fenologia e pouco conhecida. Objetivando melhorar o conhecimento e compreensao dos polinizadores do siratro e sua biologia floral, o conteudo de acucares totais no nectar de suas flores e a identificacao desses acucares foram determinados por espectrofotometria e cromatografia, respectivamente. A concentracao de acucares totais variou de 1,36 a 3,23 mg/flor para o valor maximo e de 0,19 a 0,42 mg/flor para o valor minimo. Os resultados mostraram que a concentracao de acucares totais e alta as 8h30min, quando as flores estao abertas e varia um pouco durante o tempo que as flores permanecem abertas. A variacao pode estar relacionada ao numero de insetos que visitam as flores, especialmente as abelhas que podem coletar polen e nectar durante o periodo de antese (8h30min as 16h30min). Por meio de analise enzimatica, foi verificado que o siratro possui somente a glicose na sua composicao

This research aimed to verify the Brazilian grape tree flowers’ Myrciaria cauliflora attraction to insects, including their behaviour, sample kind and effect of insect visits on fruit production. The development time and the amount of flower’s nectar soluble sugar, the insects and sample kind were observed. Four hundred flower buds were tagged (200 covered and 200 uncovered), with 5 replications to determine fruiting percentage. Only the bees Apis mellifera , Tetragonisca angustula , Chloralictus sp and Trigona spinipes visited the flowers (98.0, 0.88, 0.57 and 0.55%, respectively), collecting exclusively pollen. Percentage of fruiting did not differ between covered (19.80%) and uncovered (18.62%) treatments, showing that the bees visits did not affect fruit production.

This study was carried out to evaluate seed production and germination of sunflower, Helianthus annuus . The sunflower cultivar used is called Embrapa 122-V2000. The experiment used a marked area that had 8m x 3m, and in a second area was installed, containing a honeybee colony and covered with wire screen, 8m x 3m, with two meters in the highest part. The seed production was 362.34% higher in the covered area with honeybee colony, and its achenes weight, 27.12% higher. Therefore, pollination by honeybees in sunflower increases the seed production, as well as its germination.

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for hygienic behavior, invasion and infestation rates, total and effective reproduction of Varroa destructor in Africanized honeybee colonies producing honey (20 hives) or royal jelly (30 mini-hives) were analyzed. The significance of monthly fixed effects, type of product (honey and royal jelly) and their interactions were verified through generalized linear model procedures. Software WinBugs (Bayesian Inference Using Gibbs Sampling) with Bayesian inference was employed for (co)variance estimates. The average values for colonies producing honey or royal jelly were 74.38 and 71.40% for hygienic behavior in 24 hours; infestation rates 8.30 and 11.40%; invasion rates 9.50 and 7.50%; total reproduction 1.02 and 0.55%; effective reproduction was 0.62 and 0.33%, respectively. The additive genetic variance for invasion (0.16), total reproduction (0.25) and effective reproduction (0.94) rates of the mite were higher than estimates for hygienic behavior in 24 hours (0.05) and infestation rate (0.04). Mean heritability for hygienic behavior, infestation and invasion rates, total and effective reproduction of the mite were .58, 0.54, 0.56, 0.63 and 0.61, respectively. The genetic correlation of -0.48 for hygienic behavior with total reproduction rate of Varroa destructor shows that hygienic behavior may be the most interesting trait for selection. Besides a heritability of high magnitude, when combined with the total reproduction rate of the mite, it has a high and antagonistic correlation. Consequently, in cases of high infestation of Varroa destructor, the selection for hygienic behavior would decrease the reproduction rate of the mite.

Tetragonisca angustula and T. fiebrigi esterases were biochemically characterized by their inhibition pattern and thermostability. Workers of both species were collected from nests at the State University of Maringa. In T. fiebrigi three esterases were observed: EST-1 (β-esterase, cholinesterase I), EST-2 (α-esterase, cholinesterase II) and EST-4 (αβ-esterase, carboxylesterase). In T. angustula two esterases were detected: EST-3 (β-esterase, acetylesterase) e EST-4 (αβ-esterase, carboxylesterase). T. angustula EST-3 showed the highest thermostability, and it was not observed above 54°C, while in T. fiebrigi EST- 1 and EST-2 were not detected above 52°C. Through this characterization, it was observed that EST-4 of T. angustula and T. fiebrigi showed identical biochemical characteristics, and probably those esterases are encoded by the same gene in the two species. Together, the biochemical characterization and molecular markers show that the two species are differentiated and secondary contact between the populations can still be occurring.

The somatic cells counting (SCC) is a tool to detect sub clinical and assistant infection in the evaluation of milk quality. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the degree of the sub clinical mastitis of the dairy herd at Universidade Estadual de Maringa by controlling the milk of 306 data, carried out by the Associacao Paranaense dos Criadores de Bovinos da Raca Holandesa. The data was collected from 35 cows in 5 calving orders (CO), from 1993 to 1996. The result of SCC for the first CO was the smallest (P < 0.05), while the results for the 5th CO were the largest. The high value of SCC suggests that the quality of the milk produced could be affected and that some cows of the herd can be with sub clinical mastitis, and thus, Some tests should be accomplished to confirm the infection: the mastitis tests, Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT) or the California Mastitis Test (CMT).

O presente experimento foi conduzido com a finalidade de identificar os insetos visitantes nas flores de três espécies de maracujá, Passiflora (Passifloraceae), sua freqüência, tipo e tempo de coleta (néctar e/ou pólen), comportamento nas flores e o efeito desta visitação na produção de frutos. Foram estudadas as espécies maracujá-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims flavicarpa flavicarpa Deg.), maracujá-de-veado (P. giberti N. E. Brown) e maracujá-suspiro (P. nítida HBK), observando-se também as flores quanto ao tamanho, coloração e duração. Verificou-se que os principais insetos visitantes foram, respectivamente, Xylocopa suspecta, Trigona spinipes e X. griscenses, para as três espécies de maracujá estudadas. Estas abelhas coletaram néctar preferencialmente, apenas Trigona foi observada coletando ocasionalmente pólen. Verificou-se que as Xylocopas coletaram em espécies com flores maiores (maracujá-amarelo e maracujá-suspiro) e as Apis e Trigona nas flores menores (maracujá-de-veado). Não houve produção de frutos em flores não visitadas e a porcentagem de flores visitadas por insetos que se transformaram em frutos foi, em média, 53,85%

The aim of this paper was the evaluation of combs from three experimental treatments: beeswax foundation, beeswax with paraffin and a gap frame, partially without wax. The experiment was carried out using ten Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Africanized honeybee colonies in Marialva - state of Parana, in the south of Brazil. They were accomplished by mapping areas constructed and occupied with honey, at intervals of approximately 20 days. Three combs, containing, each one, the three treatments were placed at the positions right lateral, central and left lateral of the super observed the hive to the back. The honeybees built the greatest area and filled with honey (p < 0.05) when the comb was introduced in the central position of the hive, compared to other treatments in which differences were also observed (p < 0.05). The position of the wax comb mixed with paraffin produced the smallest area (p < 0.05) occupied with honey compared to the others. Results showed that paraffin mixed with wax comb should be used since the combs are placed in the central position and must be used for production of honey in sections.