Relationship among Apis mellifera L. stings, swarming and climate conditions in the city of Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

The presence of bees (Apis mellifera L.) in urban areas has increased in recent years due to environmental disturbances caused by humans. Bee migration to cities may provoke serious accidents, since some people present allergic reactions to their venoms. In Rio Claro city, São Paulo state, Brazil, the number of calls to the fire brigade for removal of bee swarms, and the number admissions in local hospitals due to bee stings were investigated during 2002 and 2003, and a correlation between these data and the average temperature, rainfall and relative humidity was found. The study period was divided into three phases according to the number of times that the fire brigade was called to remove swarms (263 times): January to July 2002 51 calls (19.39%); August 2002 to July 2003 140 calls (53.23%); and August to December 2003 72 calls (27.38%). A significant correlation among the number of calls, the local temperature and rainfall was detected. The number of accidents was not associated with environmental variables. Based on the current results, public activities for prevention of bee attacks may be developed to avoid unwanted contact between humans and these insects, and/or provide the appropriate management of the colonies.(AU)

Preferência alimentar da formiga urbana camponotus vittatus forel (hymenoptera: formicidae)

ABSTRACT For an adequate management program of urban ants, knowledge on their biology is required, with the aim of detecting and exploring their vulnerabilities. This type of information has been used in the manufacture of baits, which must show, among other characteristics, attractiveness to several species to be considered efficient and economically viable. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate in the laboratory the attractiveness of sweet and fatty substances to Camponotus vittatus, trying to find which substances would be more efficient to be introduced as the attractive component in baits. Five colonies, 68 sweet substances and 23 fatty substances were utilized in the laboratory trials. The most attractive sweet and fatty substances, were, respectively, 75% demerara sugar and vegetable fat. When substances of both natures were tested together, sweet substances presented slightly higher attractive indexes than oily substances.

RESUMO O manejo adequado das formigas urbanas exige conhecimentos sobre a biologia, com a finalidade de detectar e explorar vulnerabilidades. Essas informações vêm sendo utilizadas no desenvolvimento de iscas que, para serem eficazes e economicamente viáveis, entre outras características, devem ser atrativas para várias espécies de formigas. No presente estudo avaliouse em laboratório a atratividade alimentar de substâncias açucaradas e gordurosas para a espécie Camponotus vittatus, averiguando quais seriam os componentes mais adequados a serem introduzidos na composição da isca. Os testes foram realizados em cinco colônias, sendo avaliadas 68 substâncias açucaradas e 23 gordurosas. As mais atrativas foram o açúcar demerara 75% e a gordura vegetal. Quando ambas as substâncias foram testadas em conjunto, as açucaradas tiveram uma atratividade ligeiramente superior às gordurosas.

Desenvolvimento de metodologia de coleta e manutenção em laboratório da formiga invasora paratrechina longicornis latreille (hymenoptera: formicidae)

ABSTRACT The genus Paratrechina is a cosmopolitan group, with some species invading residences and hospitals. In Brazil, the most important species are:Paratrechina fulva andParatrechina longicornis. In spite of the importance of these species as urban pests, there is a lack of information on their biology, since studies on urban ants are rather recent in our country and also due to the difficulty of keeping colonies of P. longicornis in the laboratory. Therefore, the present study was aimed at developing two methodologies: one suitable for collecting and another for keeping colonies of P. longicornis in the laboratory. Concerning the collections, four methodologies were analyzed, while for keeping colonies in the laboratory, the types of containers where the colonies would be stored as well as the food items that would comprise their diet were evaluated. The most adequate methodology for collecting was the one performed using an entomological aspirator. Regarding the maintenance of colonies, the most adequate container was the test tube with cotton steeped in water, while in the tests on food attractiveness, the workers showed preference for sugary liquids and dead insects, mainly termites. Moreover, two infestations of mites from the families Acaridae, Macrochelidae (genus Macrocheles) and Uropodidae in the colonies of P. longicornis have occurred, which caused a significant mortality of the colonies, due to an unbalance in the social behavior of the ants.

RESUMO O gênero Paratrechinaé um grupo cosmopolita, com algumas espécies invadindo residências e hospitais. No Brasil, as espécies mais importantes são: Paratrechina fulva e Paratrechina longicornis. Apesar do destaque como pragas urbanas, há uma escassez de informações sobre sua biologia, devido às pesquisas com as formigas urbanas serem recentes em nosso país e pela dificuldade na manutenção de P. longicornis em laboratório. Assim, este estudo pretendeu desenvolver uma metodologia adequada de coleta e outra para a manutenção em laboratório de P. longicornis. Para as coletas foram analisadas quatro metodologias, enquanto para a manutenção em laboratório foram avaliados: os tipos de recipientes onde as colônias permaneceriam alojadas e os itens alimentares que comporiam a dieta. Nas coletas das colônias a metodologia mais adequada foi aquela em que se utilizou o aspirador entomológico. Na manutenção das colônias, o recipiente mais adequado foi o tubo de ensaio com algodão embebido em água e, quanto aos testes de atratividade alimentar, as operárias têm preferências por líquidos açucarados e por insetos mortos, principalmente cupins. Além disso, ocorreram duas infestações por ácaros das famílias Acaridae, Macrochelidae (gênero Macrocheles) e Uropodidae nas colônias de P. longicornis, que ocasionaram uma significativa mortalidade das colônias, devido a um desequilíbrio no comportamento social.

Plantas tóxicas para abelhas / Plants toxic to bees

RESUMO Esta revisão tem por objetivo agrupar os dados referentes ao estudo das plantas tóxicas para abelhas. São relacionados os mais importantes artigos publicados sobre o assunto, principalmente os de autores brasileiros, confirmando os efeitos tóxicos do pólen ou néctar sobre estes insetos. As informações sobre as estruturas químicas de substâncias isoladas das diversas partes das plantas e sua atividade biológica, têm auxiliado muito na identificação dos mecanismos da intoxicação das abelhas por estas plantas.

ABSTRACT This review cover's some data from studies about toxic plants. There are plants that produce toxic pollen or nectar, and these plants were used in laboratory bioassays, confirming toxic effects against bees. Most of information on chemical structures of toxins and their effects on insects and mammals has been obtained from research. Such knowledge can help us to discover the chemical nature of bee poisoning by these plants.