Abstract

MALERBO-SOUZA, Darclet Teresinha  and  HALAK, André Luiz. Frequency and behavior of bees and other insects on cotton fl owers. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.4, pp.475-484. ISSN 0798-7269.

This experiment was conducted at the Centro Universitario Moura Lacerda, Ribeirão Preto, SP, and aimed to study the frequency and behavior of insects visiting the fl owers of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as well as the collection type (nectar and / or pollen) of insects on fl owers. For this, the culture was observed in March 2010, the fi rst ten minutes in each hour, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, with three replicates (different days). The insects found in cotton fl owers were Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae; 36.7%), followed by stingless bees Exomalopsis sp. (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae; 16.3%), beetles Astylus variegatus (Coleoptera), other Hymenoptera (11%), Hemiptera (9%), beetle Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera; 7.1%), wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; 4.1%) and fl ies (Diptera; 3.3%). The Africanized honey bees visited the fl owers mainly to collect pollen. When collecting nectar from fl owers, this bee played the stamens carrying pollen from fl ower to fl ower characterizing it as an effective pollinator in cotton crop. Africanized honey bees preferred to collect pollen (63.0%) than nectar (37.0%) in these fl owers. For pollen, these bees visited the fl owers from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm, with a peak frequency between 8:00 am and 11:00 am. To collect nectar, these insects visited the fl owers from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a peak frequency between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. The Africanized honey bee, stingless bees Exomalopsis sp and beetles A. variegatus were considered pollinators effectives on cotton culture

Keywords : Gossypium hirsutum; Apis mellifera; insect; foraging behavior.

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