Orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) of Cusuco National Park, State of Cortés, Honduras

Authors

  • Kenneth W. McCravy Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, Illinois 61455, USA Operation Wallacea, Hope House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK
  • Joseph Van Dyke Operation Wallacea, Hope House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA
  • Thomas J. Creedy Operation Wallacea, Hope House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 4EX, UK Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, UK Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
  • David W. Roubik Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon, Balboa, Republic of Panama

Keywords:

Mesoamerican euglossines, Neotropical cloud forest, pollinator biodiversity, habitat fragmentation

Abstract

Orchid bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) are abundant and important pollinators of Neotropical forests, but orchid bee diversity is still poorly known in much of Mesoamerica, particularly in cloud forests. This paper presents results of a 2012 to 2013 survey of orchid bee diversity in Cusuco National Park, a cloud forest environment in northwest Honduras. Orchid bees were collected using insect nets at bait stations with chemical attractants. Bait stations were located at 68 sample sites throughout the park. We collected 4,293 orchid bees representing 24 species and 4 genera. One species, Euglossa imperialis Cockerell, accounted for 67.6% of the total individuals collected. A substantial easterly range extension was established for Eufriesea pallida (Kimsey). Our study provides the first intensive inventory of cloud forest orchid bee diversity in the region. Furthermore, it provides baseline data for future studies of orchid bees in a key biodiversity area that is threatened by human population growth and associated land use changes.

 

Resumen

Abejas de las orquídeas (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini) son polinizadores abundantes e importantes de los bosques neotropicales, pero la diversidad de las abejas de orquídeas es aún poco conocida en gran parte de Mesoamérica, sobre todo en los bosques nublados. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un sondeo del 2012-2013 de la diversidad de las abejas de orquídeas en el Parque Nacional Cusuco, un ambiente de bosque nublado en el noroeste de Honduras. Las abejas de orquídeas fueron recolectadas a través de redes para insectos en estaciones de cebo con atrayentes químicos. Las estaciones de cebo se encuentran en 68 puntos de muestreo por todo el parque. Hemos recolectado 4.293 abejas de las orquídeas que representan 24 especies y 4 géneros. Una especie, Euglossa imperialis Cockerell, representó el 67,6% del total de individuos recolectados. Una extensión significante de rango hacia el este fue establecida para Eufriesea pallida (Kimsey). Nuestro estudio provee el primer inventario intensivo de la diversidad de las abejas de orquídeas en los bosques nublados en la región. Además, se provee datos de referencia para futuros estudios de abejas de las orquídeas en un área clave de biodiversidad que se ve amenazada por el crecimiento de la población humana y los cambios asociados al uso del suelo.

 

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Published

2016-12-31

Issue

Vol. 99, No. 4 (December 2016)

Section

Research Papers

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