Daily flight activity pattern and the influence of abiotics factors of two Melipona species

Abstract Climatic conditions influence the behavior and, consequently, the daily flight activity of bees, especially in eusocial species of the genus Melipona. This study aimed to investigate the daily flight activities of Melipona quadrifasciata and Melipona scutellaris by evaluating the presence or absence of flight activity patterns throughout the day in different months of the year, as well as to verify the influence of abiotic factors on these activities. The field research took place at CEARIS, BA, over a period of four months. The study revealed that colonies of M. scutellaris and M. quadrifasciata showed more intense activities during months of high temperature and low precipitation. Temperature and the light/dark cycle were important factors, influencing the start and end of these bees' daily activities, which tended to begin with sunlight and temperatures around 25°C. The collection of pollen and resin was concentrated in the morning, suggesting a strong correlation between the availability of these resources by plants and abiotics factors such as temperature and especially relative humidity. Daily activity patterns were observed, suggesting a biological rhythm of the bees, which may be influenced by environmental factors such as the light/dark cycle and local meteorological conditions. Additionally, the thermal window of 20 to 34°C observed may have masked the temperature influences on the bees' external activities, as these tropical organisms are adapted to such conditions.