Guilda de abelhas vespas solitárias (Hymenoptera) que nidificam em cavidades preexistentes no Pico do Jabre, Maturéia, Paraíba.

Abstract

Guild of solitary wasp bees (Hymenoptera) that nest in preexisting cavities in Pico do Jabre, Maturéia, Paraíba. The present work was developed in the region of Pico do Jabre, municipality of Matureia, PB. The guild of solitary bees and wasps that nest in preexisting cavities was systematically observed between August 2002 and July 2004. The sampling technique used was trap-nests. In 10 wooden blocks with 32 holes each, cardboard trap nests with 4, 6, 9 and 12 mm in diameter were placed and inspected every fifteen days. The constructed nests were removed to observe the emergence of adult individuals and the occurrence of possible parasites. Fifty nests were surveyed, 39 of seven wasp species and eleven of three bee species. Among the nesting bees Tetrapedia sp. was the most abundant, in number of individuals and nests collected. Among the nesting wasps, Trypoxylon nitidum and Podium sp. presented the highest number of nests collected over the two years of study. The species of Pompilidae stood out when compared to other species in the relationship between the number of rundated nests and emerged individuals. During the reviews of the trap nests, several species of tenants, a species of parasitic bee and an unidentified species of microhymenoptera were also found. During the two years of studies each bee species was collected only in restricted periods of two months or less. The wasps apparently did not establish a relationship with the dry or rainy season. The blocks with the trap nests were installed in more preserved forest environments and in open areas. At 1.5 and 7 m in height inside the forest, and at 1.5 m in open areas, after the installation of the sampling effort in April 2003. In general, a greater number of nests were found inside the kills than in open areas. Megachile susurrans and Tetrapedia sp. have not yet been recorded in areas dominated by caatinga, possibly being typical of closed forests. Centris tarsata should be typical of open areas. For the wasps collected, it is possible that Podium sp. and the species of Pompilidae are typical of closed forests. Trypoxylon nitidum and Stenonartonia sp. occurred both in open areas and in the interior of the forest.