Identification of megachilid species (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and other pollinators in apple orchards in Chihuahua, México
Keywords:
pollination, insect pollinators, blue orchard mason bee, Megachilidae, Osmia lignaria, Osmia integraAbstract
Research on the diversity and abundance of taxa pollinators at the community level are essential to know aspects of their biology, ethology, ecology and the impacts on reproduction and plant diversity. Bees have an important role in providing pollination, which is essential to plant reproduction. The objective of the study was to document the diversity and abundance of bee pollinators, with emphasis in Megachilid species, in 2 unmanaged apple orchards, located in Cuauhtémoc and Guerrero, Chihuahua, México. Both orchards had similar conditions, with intermediate levels of adjacent natural/semi-natural habitat. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, special wood nesting traps for capturing Osmia spp. were installed. Four species of solitary pollinator bees of Osmia genus were captured, of which the most represented was Osmia sp.1, with 323 specimens, followed by Osmia sp.2 with 84 specimens, O. lignaria Say with 11 specimens and 3 specimens of O. integra Cresson. Also, other species of bees and wasps visitors of plants with flowers were found such as Trachusa sp., Anthidium spp., Megachile pugnata Say, Heriades carinatus Cresson, Xylocopa sp., Bombus sp., Ancistrocerus tuberculocephalus (Saussure) and Vespula sp.
Las investigaciones sobre la diversidad y abundancia de taxas polinizadoras a nivel comunidad son esenciales para conocer aspectos relacionados con su biología, ecología, etología y los impactos sobre la reproducción y diversidad de plantas. Por lo que, mantener la relación entre plantas y polinizadores es vital para la estabilidad de los ecosistemas ecosistemas y agroecosistemas donde las abejas juegan un rol muy importante para la polinización, la cual es esencial para la reproducción de las plantas. El objetivo del estudio fue estimar la diversidad y abundancia de abejas polinizadoras, con énfasis en especies de Megaquílidos, en dos huertos de manzano, sin manejo, localizados en Cuauhtémoc y Guerrero, Chihuahua, México. Ambos huertos muestran condiciones similares, con niveles intermedios de hábitats adyacentes naturales y semi-naturales. En 2010, 2011 y 2012, se colocaron trampas especiales de madera para la anidación de polinizadores para la captura de Osmia spp. Se encontraron cuatro especies de abejas solitarias polinizadoras pertenecientes al género Osmia, donde Osmia sp.1 fue la más representada, con 323 especímenes, 84 especímenes de Osmia sp.2, 11 especímenes de O. lignaria Say y tres de O. integra Cresson. Se encontraron otras especies de abejas y avispas visitadoras de plantas con flores tales como Trachusa sp., Anthidium spp., Megachile pugnata Say, Heriades carinatus Cresson, Xylocopa sp., Bombus sp., Ancistrocerus tuberculocephalus (Saussure) and Vespula sp.
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