Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) of the Bela Vista Biological Refuge, Foz do Iguaçu, PR

Guilherme Schnell e Schühli; Júlia Colombelli Agostini; Yoan Delky Ibañez Ojeda; Fernando César Vieira Zanella

doi:10.4336/2025.pfb.45e202502329

Authors

Guilherme Schnell e Schühli Embrapa Forestry https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1134-4995
Júlia Colombelli Agostini Federal University of Paraná https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8074-7483
Yoan Delky Ibañez Ojeda Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4924-2945
Fernando César Vieira Zanella Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8466-8988

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4336/2025.pfb.45e202502329

Keywords:

Apidae, Meliponiculture, Surveys

Abstract

We present an inventory based on 17 months of sampling at a strategic site within the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion, the largest among the regions of the Atlantic Forest. Including areas of 30-year-old forest restoration, our study qualitatively and quantitatively assesses the Meliponini (Apidae) species composition. Sampling involved periodical and discriminate sweep net collection in blooming plants. A total of 442 specimens from eight species and seven genera within Meliponini were recorded: Scaptotrigona depilis (31.4%), Plebeia droryana (26.7%), Trigona spinipes (25.8%), Tetragonisca fiebrigi (6.8%), Tetragona clavipes (4.8%), P. nigriceps (3.4%), Schwarziana quadripunctata (0.7%), and Melipona quadrifasciata (0.5%). The dominance of S. depilis suggests its potential for meliponiculture in the region. While P. nigriceps is established, its natural or introduced status remains unclear. The anthropized area supports the highest Meliponini diversity and holds promise for zootechnical strategies. Our findings, contextualized with previous distribution records, contribute to local conservation and restoration efforts and inform public policies regulating meliponiculture. Given our robust sampling effort, the Meliponini fauna composition observed provides a reliable diagnostic framework for the region

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Author Biographies

Guilherme Schnell e Schühli, Embrapa Forestry

http://lattes.cnpq.br/3597971596864302

Júlia Colombelli Agostini, Federal University of Paraná

http://lattes.cnpq.br/8564746807009820

Fernando César Vieira Zanella, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana

http://lattes.cnpq.br/8242371134843208

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