RECURSO FLORAIS UTILIZADOS POR ABELHAS (HYMENOPTERA, APOIDEA) EM ÁREA DE CAATINGA (SÃO JOÃO DO CARIRI, PARAÍBA)

Resumo

Floral resources utilized by a bee community in the caatinga ecosystem were surveyed. Bees were collected while visiting flowers with entomological nets. There were sampled 923 individuals and 42 species of bees visiting 51 plant species. Plant families heavily visited were Boraginaceae (18%), Concolvulaceae (15%), Cactaceae (13%) and Caesalpiniaceae (13%). During the dry season (July to December) a low diversity of plant species visited by bees (as well as low number of bees visiting flowers) was observed, in contrast with the rainy season (January to June) in which higher values were observed. Since January an increase in diversity of plant species visited was observed, reaching maximum values in May and June. Distribution patterns of visits of bee families were to those observed in the caatinga of Casa Nova (Bahia State) with the exception of Apidae and Anthophoridae.