Arquitetura de ninho e manejo de abelha jandaíra (Melipona subnitida Ducke) no alto sertão da Paraíba.

Abstract

Jandaíra bee (Melipona subnitida DUCKE), popularly known by indigenous stingless bees, is a kind of melipona, widespread in the Brazilian northeast, the “caatinga” and the northeastern semi-arid region, although is threatened with extinction as a result of changes in their environment, caused mainly by deforestation, indiscriminate use of pesticides and the predatory actions by “Meleiros”. The objective was to study the nest architecture and management of Jandaíra bee at a commercial breeding facility, located in the community “Baixio dos Albuquerque”, in São João do Rio do Peixe, semi-arid region of Paraíba. The research data were collected during the colonies management housed in rational nesting boxes, measuring 70 cm long, 11cm wide and 13cm high, from November 2014 to July 2015. To characterize the nest, parameters related to brood area and food areawere measured. In the brood area,were evaluated the number of brood combs per colony, length (cm), width (cm) and height (cm) of the brood combs; diameter (cm) and height (cm) of the brood cells, number of brood cells per cm2 and the brood cells volume (ml). In the food area, were evaluated the number of honey pots and pollen pots per colony, height (cm) and diameter (cm) of the honey and pollen pots, honey pots volume (ml) and pollen pots weight (g). In the brood area, were found an average of 5.10 brood combs per colony, with length and width of 10,42cm and 5,58cm, respectively. Regarding the brood cells, were found 4.10 per cm2, with diameter and height of 0.52cm and 0.79cm, respectively. Was found an average of 30.41 honey pots, which height, diameter and volume showed, respectively, the mean values of 3,07cm, 3,05cm and 6,73ml. The mean number of pollen pots was 12.21 units per colony, with 3,04cm in height, 2,8cm in diameter and mass of 7,23g per pot. Honey and pollen pots are directly related with the colony development and honey production. The results suggest that the creation of Jandaíra bee on rational nesting boxes provides a better use of products made by these insects, without damaging the nest area, nor compromising the colonies development, offering better handling conditions to the beekeeper and preventing the destruction of native vegetation.