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Los himenópteros son los principales polinizadores de los sistemas agrícolas y juegan un papel clave en la producción de alimentos. Sin embargo, poco se ha estudiado sobre las redes de polinización y la dependencia de las plantas a polinizadores en agroecosistemas tropicales. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la red de polinizadores asociada a un agroecosistema y evaluar la influencia de los rasgos morfológicos de las especies en la polinización. El estudio se realizó en un agroecosistema en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Entre enero y febrero del 2017 se emplearon 96 h de observación y se cuantificaron las interacciones entre polinizadores y flores; se estimó la duración promedio de visita por polinizador, se registró la abundancia floral y se midieron los principales rasgos morfológicos de plantas y polinizadores. En las plantas se midió el largo de la corola, y en los polinizadores, masa corporal y longitud de lengua. En total se identificaron 17 especies de polinizadores que visitaron ocho especies de plantas (cinco agrícolas y tres arvenses). Se encontró que la red es especializada (H₂' = 0,8) con un grado de anidamiento bajo (NODF = 10,4), y que las plantas fueron especialistas y dependientes a los polinizadores (75 % spp. d’ > 0,7). Además, se encontró que la abundancia floral y la masa corporal de los himenópteros influencian la duración de visita, lo cual podría afectar la calidad de la polinización. Este estudio revela que la especialización ecológica y la complementariedad funcional de los himenópteros influyen en la polinización de agroecosistemas.

The stingless bee Tetragonisca buchwaldi (Friese, 1925) is documented in Ecuador (1925), Costa Rica (1962), and Panama (1983). This study presents new records for two provinces in Panama and the first-ever report of the species in Colombia. This last record was obtained in September 2022 in Chocó Department using pan traps, which were exposed inside the forest. These new records contribute to the general knowledge of Meliponini, mainly in the biogeographic Chocó region where these bees are undersampled.

Floral larceny (robbery and thievery of nectar and/or pollen) by some species of stingless bees in the genus Trigona has been long reported for several plant species, although the consequences for plant reproduction are unknown for many cultivated species. Here we i) describe the behavior of Trigona amalthea Olivier in relation to flowers of granadilla (Passiflora ligularis Juss), ii) provide a preliminary assessment of fruit set in six experimental plots, one exposed to attacks by T. amalthea only (infested) and the other plots without attacks from any species (control plots), and iii) discuss potential strategies for preventing damage from T. amalthea based on species traits such as foraging range. We observed T. amalthea chewing styles and stigmas of both flower buds and mature flowers while primarily extracting pollen. Destruction of floral structures prior to ovule fertilization probably accounts for the significant reduction in fruit set in the infested plot compared to control plots, although replicated infested plots are required for robust confirmation. Moreover, negative effects may be intensified by the small size of the experimental plot. Further studies are needed to assess impacts on commercial plantations, including investigations into a potential dilution effect in larger crop fields, as well as plant mechanisms to cope with consumer damage (resistance and tolerance). Legitimate pollinators were found to cover larger distances than T. amalthea. Therefore, locating crop fields at optimal distances from bee nesting habitat might reduce damage by balancing bee services and disservices.

The dry enclave of Amaime River is one of the few places that remain as Tropical Dry Forest in the Valle del Cauca department, which is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems in the Neotropics. The site has been heavily transformed and threatened by anthropic means like continued burning for the suitability of land for agriculture and livestock, small short rotation crops among others. The aim of the study was to develop detailed inventories of avifauna, herpetofauna, mammalian fauna, and flora in relict sub-xerophytic forests of the enclave, therefore revealing the biodiversity of these remnants, their conservation status and potential threats in order to propose recommendations for conservation. Four sampling areas were selected with cover vegetation as thorny scrub vegetation, riparian forests and forest fragments. For registration and data collection mist nets, transects, direct observations and Sherman traps were used, additionally informal interviews with the community were performed. Despite the reduction of vegetation cover in the dry enclave of Amaime River, the forest fragments serve as shelter and feeding site for both transient species and typical dry and very dry forest wildlife.