Physicochemical and bioactive properties of Apis and stingless bee (Meliponini) honey from Brazilian Caatinga

Since the composition of honey varies with the species of bee as well as flowering and geographical aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and bioactive properties of Apisand stingless bees'honey from the Brazilian Caatinga. Samples of different species of Apis mellifera L.Meliponini (Melipona subnitida, Frieseomellita varia, Melipona mandacaia, Plebeia sp.) and Apis mellifera L.werecollected from honey producersin the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Honey from A. mellifera and stingless bees showed physicochemical differences in some parameters, especially in moisture, free acidity, HMF, water activity, sugars and electric conductivity. There were no differences in color between honeys from A. mellifera and stingless bees. Honeys fromPlebeia sp., F. varia and A. mellifera showed higher antioxidant capacity followed by honeys fromM. mandacaia and M. subnitida. Flavonoids had little influence on the differentiation of antioxidant activities of stingless bees, while the opposite occurred with the phenolic content, where honeys with the highest levels of phenolic also showed higher antioxidant capacity.(AU)

Correlação de parâmetros biométricos e produtivos em colônias de Melipona scutelaris / Correlation of biometric and productive parameters in colonies of Melipona scutelaris

The objective of this research was to estimate the correlations between the biometric and reproductive parameters of Melipona scutelaris. Four collections were performed with 30-day intervals, consisting of the evaluation of each colony, considering the following parameters: honey pot size and volume (HPS and VHP), estimated honey production (EHP), number of combs (NC), mean diameter of the combs (MDC), height of the combs (HC), height of rearing cells (HRC), number of pups (NP) population (POP) and wax envelope in pups. The data were analyzed using the SAS software (2004), and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used for the correlation calculations. The correlations of the studied variables of production and biometrics of Melipona scutellaris colonies made it possible to perceive that the variable number of honey pots (NHP) present a higher correlation with HPS, EPH, DMC, HRC, NP and POP, followed by size of pots of honey (HPS) with: VHP, EHP, MDC, HC and POP. For future studies using the productive and biometric characteristics of the bees Melipona scutellaris can be considered for EPH, VHP, EPH, NC and POP, as variable responses.(AU)

Correlação de parâmetros biométricos e produtivos em colônias de Melipona scutelaris / Correlation of biometric and productive parameters in colonies of Melipona scutelaris

The objective of this research was to estimate the correlations between the biometric and reproductive parameters of Melipona scutelaris. Four collections were performed with 30-day intervals, consisting of the evaluation of each colony, considering the following parameters: honey pot size and volume (HPS and VHP), estimated honey production (EHP), number of combs (NC), mean diameter of the combs (MDC), height of the combs (HC), height of rearing cells (HRC), number of pups (NP) population (POP) and wax envelope in pups. The data were analyzed using the SAS software (2004), and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used for the correlation calculations. The correlations of the studied variables of production and biometrics of Melipona scutellaris colonies made it possible to perceive that the variable number of honey pots (NHP) present a higher correlation with HPS, EPH, DMC, HRC, NP and POP, followed by size of pots of honey (HPS) with: VHP, EHP, MDC, HC and POP. For future studies using the productive and biometric characteristics of the bees Melipona scutellaris can be considered for EPH, VHP, EPH, NC and POP, as variable responses.(AU)

Avaliação da qualidade de méis de abelhas africanizadas e sem ferrão nativas do nordeste do estado do Pará / Evaluation of quality of honey from africanized and stingless bees natives of the northeast of the state of Pará

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical quality of fresh (np) and pasteurized (p) honey from Africanized bees (Apis mellifera) and two species of stingless bees (Melipona fasciculata and Melipona flavolineata), native to the northeastern region of the State of Pará. Physicochemical analyzes were performed according to the Brazilian legislation recommended for Apis mellifera and the microbiological analysis followed the official methods by the American Public Health Association. The honey from Apis mellifera were within the established physicochemical standards, except for the parameters reducing sugars (np: 57.43%±1.28 and p: 58.53%±1.91), acidity (np: 62.25 cmol/Kg±4.15 and p: 62.67 cmol/Kg±5.75) and humidity (np: 21.02%±0.17 and p: 20.12%±0.07). Meliponine honey was within the values observed in literature for this type of honey. In most of the physicochemical analysis performed, the types of honey were found to be different from each other, with meliponine honey having higher moisture and water activity, which makes it more susceptible to deterioration. A significant difference was observed between fresh honey from Apis mellifera and meliponine when compared to their respective pasteurized honey for moisture analysis (A. melífera, np: 21.02%±0.17 and p: 20.12%±0.07; M. fasciculata, np: 24.33%±0.03 and p: 23.68%±0.16; M. flavolineata, np: 28.53%±0.02 and p: 27.40%±0.04), apparent sucrose (A. melífera, np: 5.75%±0.18 and p: 3.19%±0.23; M. fasciculata, np: 3.89%±0.04 and p: 1.59%±0.03; M. flavolineata, np: 2.12%±0.22 and p: 1.62%±0.02) and HMF (A. melífera, np: 20.99 mg/Kg±0.13 and p: 64.36 mg/Kg±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 6.54 mg/Kg±0.14 and p: 9.46 mg/Kg±0.09; M. flavolineata, np: 3.59mg/Kg±0.14 and p: 43.19 mg/Kg±0.14). All the samples submitted to the pasteurization process were within the microbiological limits established by current legislation.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e físico-química do mel in natura (np) e pasteurizado (p) de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) e de duas espécies de abelhas sem ferrão (Melipona fasciculata e Melipona flavolineata) nativas da região Nordeste do Estado do Pará. As análises físico-químicas foram realizadas de acordo com o recomendado pela legislação brasileira para Apis mellifera e as análises microbiológicas seguiram os métodos oficiais da American Public Health Association. Os méis de Apis mellifera apresentaram-se dentro dos padrões físico-químicos estabelecidos, exceto para os parâmetros açúcares redutores (np: 57,43%±1,28 e p: 58,53%±1,91), acidez (np: 62,25 cmol/Kg±4,15 e p: 62,67 cmol/Kg±5,75) e umidade (np: 21,02%±0,17 e p: 20,12%±0,07). Os méis de meliponíneos apresentaram-se dentro da faixa observada na literatura para esse tipo de mel. Em quase todas as análises físico-químicas realizadas, os méis estudados mostraram-se diferentes entre si, sendo que os méis de meliponíneos apresentam umidade e atividade de água mais elevada, o que os torna mais suscetíveis a deteriorações. Foi observada diferença significativa entre os méis in natura de A. mellifera e de meliponíneos quando comparado com seus respectivos méis pasteurizados para as análises de umidade (A. melífera, np: 21,02%±0,17 e p: 20,12%±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 24,33%±0,03 e p: 23,68%±0,16; M. flavolineata, np: 28,53%±0,02 e p: 27,40%±0,04), sacarose aparente (A. melífera, np: 5,75%±0,18 e p: 3,19%±0,23; M. fasciculata, np: 3,89%±0,04 e p: 1,59%±0,03; M. flavolineata, np: 2,12%±0,22 e p: 1,62%±0,02) e HMF (A. melífera, np: 20,99mg/Kg±0,13 e p: 64,36mg/Kg±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 6,54mg/Kg±0,14 e p: 9,46mg/Kg±0,09; M. flavolineata, np: 3,59mg/Kg±0,14 e p: 43,19mg/Kg±0,14). Todas as amostras submetidas ao processo de pasteurização encontravam-se dentro dos limites microbiológicos estabelecidos pela legislação vigente.

Avaliação da qualidade de méis de abelhas africanizadas e sem ferrão nativas do nordeste do estado do Pará / Evaluation of quality of honey from africanized and stingless bees natives of the northeast of the state of Pará

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical quality of fresh (np) and pasteurized (p) honey from Africanized bees (Apis mellifera) and two species of stingless bees (Melipona fasciculata and Melipona flavolineata), native to the northeastern region of the State of Pará. Physicochemical analyzes were performed according to the Brazilian legislation recommended for Apis mellifera and the microbiological analysis followed the official methods by the American Public Health Association. The honey from Apis mellifera were within the established physicochemical standards, except for the parameters reducing sugars (np: 57.43%±1.28 and p: 58.53%±1.91), acidity (np: 62.25 cmol/Kg±4.15 and p: 62.67 cmol/Kg±5.75) and humidity (np: 21.02%±0.17 and p: 20.12%±0.07). Meliponine honey was within the values observed in literature for this type of honey. In most of the physicochemical analysis performed, the types of honey were found to be different from each other, with meliponine honey having higher moisture and water activity, which makes it more susceptible to deterioration. A significant difference was observed between fresh honey from Apis mellifera and meliponine when compared to their respective pasteurized honey for moisture analysis (A. melífera, np: 21.02%±0.17 and p: 20.12%±0.07; M. fasciculata, np: 24.33%±0.03 and p: 23.68%±0.16; M. flavolineata, np: 28.53%±0.02 and p: 27.40%±0.04), apparent sucrose (A. melífera, np: 5.75%±0.18 and p: 3.19%±0.23; M. fasciculata, np: 3.89%±0.04 and p: 1.59%±0.03; M. flavolineata, np: 2.12%±0.22 and p: 1.62%±0.02) and HMF (A. melífera, np: 20.99 mg/Kg±0.13 and p: 64.36 mg/Kg±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 6.54 mg/Kg±0.14 and p: 9.46 mg/Kg±0.09; M. flavolineata, np: 3.59mg/Kg±0.14 and p: 43.19 mg/Kg±0.14). All the samples submitted to the pasteurization process were within the microbiological limits established by current legislation.(AU)

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e físico-química do mel in natura (np) e pasteurizado (p) de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) e de duas espécies de abelhas sem ferrão (Melipona fasciculata e Melipona flavolineata) nativas da região Nordeste do Estado do Pará. As análises físico-químicas foram realizadas de acordo com o recomendado pela legislação brasileira para Apis mellifera e as análises microbiológicas seguiram os métodos oficiais da American Public Health Association. Os méis de Apis mellifera apresentaram-se dentro dos padrões físico-químicos estabelecidos, exceto para os parâmetros açúcares redutores (np: 57,43%±1,28 e p: 58,53%±1,91), acidez (np: 62,25 cmol/Kg±4,15 e p: 62,67 cmol/Kg±5,75) e umidade (np: 21,02%±0,17 e p: 20,12%±0,07). Os méis de meliponíneos apresentaram-se dentro da faixa observada na literatura para esse tipo de mel. Em quase todas as análises físico-químicas realizadas, os méis estudados mostraram-se diferentes entre si, sendo que os méis de meliponíneos apresentam umidade e atividade de água mais elevada, o que os torna mais suscetíveis a deteriorações. Foi observada diferença significativa entre os méis in natura de A. mellifera e de meliponíneos quando comparado com seus respectivos méis pasteurizados para as análises de umidade (A. melífera, np: 21,02%±0,17 e p: 20,12%±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 24,33%±0,03 e p: 23,68%±0,16; M. flavolineata, np: 28,53%±0,02 e p: 27,40%±0,04), sacarose aparente (A. melífera, np: 5,75%±0,18 e p: 3,19%±0,23; M. fasciculata, np: 3,89%±0,04 e p: 1,59%±0,03; M. flavolineata, np: 2,12%±0,22 e p: 1,62%±0,02) e HMF (A. melífera, np: 20,99mg/Kg±0,13 e p: 64,36mg/Kg±0,07; M. fasciculata, np: 6,54mg/Kg±0,14 e p: 9,46mg/Kg±0,09; M. flavolineata, np: 3,59mg/Kg±0,14 e p: 43,19mg/Kg±0,14). Todas as amostras submetidas ao processo de pasteurização encontravam-se dentro dos limites microbiológicos estabelecidos pela legislação vigente.(AU)

TOXICIDADE DE DUAS FORMULAÇÕES COMERCIAIS DE NEONICOTINOIDES PARA AS ABELHAS NATIVAS SEM FERRÃO Trigona aff. fuscipennis Friese 1900 e Scaptotrigona aff. depilis Moure 1942 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Os agrotóxicos, em particular os sistêmicos dentre os quais se incluem os neonicotinoides, são considerados com uma das causas do declínio de populações da artropodofauna em geral, incluindo as abelhas manejadas e silvestres. A avaliação do risco de uso dessas moléculas para abelhas é feita de acordo com as normas estabelecidas internacionalmente que se baseiam no efeito do ingrediente ativo do agrotóxico em diferentes concentrações sobre a espécie de referência Apis mellifera. No entanto há questionamentos sobre a validade dessa abordagem. Portanto, o presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar a toxicidade de formulações comerciais de dois neonicotinoides (tiametoxam e tiaclopride) para duas espécies de abelhas nativas, Trigona aff fuscipennis e Scaptotrigona aff depilis. Para tanto, adaptou-se dos protocolos da OECD (Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico) para teste de toxicidade com abelhas, teste de mortalidade tópica e oral. Para a formulação comercial contendo tiametoxam, os resultados com T. fuscipennis foram, de 0,08131 e 0,08443 (24 h e 48 h) para valores de mortalidade topica, e de 0,00029 (24 h) para teste de toxicidade a exposição oral, enquanto para S. depilis observaram mortalidade a exposição topica de 0,06539 e 0,04474 g/l (24 h e 48 h), e oral de 2,30472 e 1,18265 g/l (24 h e 48 h). No caso da formulação comercial contendo tiaclopride, foram obtidos valores de exposição topica de 0,1578 e 0,11697 g/l (24 h e 48 h), e quanto a exposição oral de 5,35627e 2,8739 g/l (24 h e 48 h) com T. fuscipennis e em S. depilis a valores de mortalidade tópica de 2,06348 e 0,00187 g/l (24h e 48 h) e oral de 0,00489 e 0,00123 g/l (24 e 48 h). Portanto, concluímos que as abelhas sem ferrão T. fuscipennis e S. depilis são bem mais sensíveis às formulações comerciais dos agrotóxicos tiametoxam e tiaclopride do que a espécie de referência; que Apis mellifera possa não ser uma boa espécie de referência para avaliar a segurança da ação toxicológica dos agrotóxicos em abelhas; que o uso de uma única espécie como referência geral pode não avaliar os riscos toxicológicos adequadamente; e que existe a necessidade de se considerar as formulações comerciais em testes de avaliação de risco para abelhas.

Pesticides, particularly the systemic ones, which include the neonicotinoids, are considered one of the causes of the decline of the wildlife population in general, including managed and wild bees. The risk assessment of those molecules in bees is in accordance with international standards, which are based on the effect of the active ingredient of the pesticide in different concentrations on the reference species Apis mellifera. However, there are some issues concerning this approach. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the toxicity of commercial formulations of two neonicotinoids (thiamethoxam and thiacloprid) in two species of stingless bees: Trigona aff fuscipennis and Scaptotrigona aff depilis. For this purpose, were adapted from the protocols of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) toxicity test with bees, topical and oral mortality test. For the commercial formulation with thiamethoxam, the results with T.fuscipennis were 0.08131 and 0.08443 for topical (24h and 48h, respectively), and 0.00029 to oral (24 h); as for S. depilis, there were results of 0.06539 and 0.04474g/l topical (24h and 48h, respectively), also 2.30472 and 1.18265g/l oral (24h and 48h, respectively). Regarding the commercial formulation with thiacloprid, there were results of 0.1578 and 0.11697g/l LD50 (24h and 48h, respectively), 5.35627 and 2.8739g/l oral (24h and 48h, respectively), with T.fuscipennis; also 2.06348 and 0.00187g/l topical (24h and 48h, respectively) and 0.00489 e 0.00123g/l oral (24h e 48h, respectively) for S. depilis. Therefore, this study concludes that the T.fuscipennis and the S. depilis stingless bees are much more sensitive to the commercial formulation of the thiamethoxam and thiacloprid pesticides than the reference species; that Apis mellifera is not a good reference species for the assessment of the safety of the toxic action of pesticides in bees; that the use of a sole species as general reference may not assess the toxic risks properly; and that there is the need to take the commercial formulations into consideration in risk assessments for bees.

ESTABELECIMENTO DE PARÂMETROS TOXICOLÓGICOS DO IMIDACLOPRIDO, PARA A ABELHA SEM FERRÃO Scaptotrigona sp. nov.

Dentre os vários fatores apontados como responsáveis pelo declínio das colônias de abelhas, os defensivos agrícolas do grupo químico dos neonicotinóides merecem destaque, principalmente o inseticida sistêmico imidacloprido, que é um agonista da acetilcolina e age nos receptores nicotínicos de acetilcolina dos insetos, ocasionando comprometimento das funções vitais e morte. Com o presente trabalho objetivou-se determinar a toxicidade do imidacloprido por diferentes vias de exposição para a abelha sem ferrão Scaptotrigona sp. nov. através da dose letal média tópica (DL50) e da concentração letal média por ingestão (CL50). Esse estudo foi conduzido no Setor de Abelhas do Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal do Ceará e baseado no protocolo internacional da OECD. Os dados de mortalidade das abelhas foram anotados após 24 e 48h da exposição dos insetos às diferentes dosagens do inseticida e submetidos à análise do tipo dose resposta no programa Bioestat® versão5.3. A DL50 tópica foi de 16,65 (24 horas) e 8,23 (48 horas) ng p.c /L/abelha e a CL50 de ingestão foi 8,47 (24 horas) e 2,98 (48 horas) ng p.c /L dieta. O imidacloprido demonstrou ser tóxico para a espécie estudada e o mesmo é mais nocivo, quando administrado de forma oral, baseado na menor dosagem necessária para matar 50% da população testada.

Among the whole factors pointed as responsible for the loss of bees colonies, the crop protection products which belong to the chemical group of neonicotinoids deserve to be highlighted. Specially the systemic insecticides as imidacloprid which is an agonist acetylcholine and and acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of insects, causing impairment of vital organ function and death. The currently job aimed to determinate the toxicity of imidacloprid by different exposition ways for stingless bees Scaptotrigona sp. nov. through the topical average lethal dose (DL50) and the intake average lethal concentration (CL50). It was conducted at Setor de Abelhas, Department of Animal Science at Federal University of Ceara and based on the international protocol of OECD. The mortality data was taken after 24 and 48 hours of exposition of the insects to different dosages and submitted to dose response analysis with Bioestat® version 5.3. The topical DL50 in ng p.c /L/bee was 16,65 (24 hours) and 8,23 (48 hours), and the intake CL50 was 8,47 (24 hours) and 2,98 (48 hours) ng p.c /L of food. The imidacloprid has shown to be toxic to the researched bee specie, been more harmfull when taken by oral ways, based on its minor lethal dose needed to kill 50% of the tested population.

Melitocoria de Zygia racemosa (Ducke) Barneby & Grimes por Melipona seminigra merrillae Cockerell, 1919 y Melipona compressipes manaosensis Schwarz, 1932 (Hymenoptera, Meliponina) en la Amazonía Central, Brasil

Durante el periodo de enero a abril de 2005 fueron encontradas semillas de Zygia racemosa, incorporadas al geoprópolis, en el interior de abejas sin aguijón en dos meliponarios experimentales en Manaus - AM. Fue observada intensa actividad de las obreras de M. seminigra merrillae y M. compressipes manaosensis llegando del campo con semillas fijas en las corbículas adheridas con resina y/o saliendo de las colonias con las semillas atrapadas en las mandíbulas. Ochenta semillas fueron recogidas en el interior de las colonias (mezcladas al geoprópolis en los basureros y fisuras) y también en el exterior, cerca de la entrada de las colonias, como resultado de la caída de esas semillas de las corbículas durante el vuelo de las obreras. Las semillas fueron plantadas en semilleros para la producción de esquejes y posterior identificación de la especie vegetal. Paralelamente se realizó el rastreo en campo en un radio de aproximadamente 3Km para la confirmación de la dispersión de las semillas, observaciones de comportamiento de las abejas forrajeando y recolección de semillas. Un total de 170 plántulas de Z. racemosa fueron encontradas en los alrededores del meliponario del GPA-INPA y 160 en el meliponario Vale Verde. Esos resultados indican que tanto M. compressipes manaosensis como M. seminigra merrillae recolectan y dispersan las semillas de Z. racemosa.

During the period from January to April 2005 seeds of Zygia racemosa were found incorporated in the nest structures, inside the colonies of stingless bee in two experimental meliponaries in Manaus - Am. It was registered an intense activity of the bee-workers of Melipona seminigra merrillae and M. compressipes manaosensis arriving from the field with seeds set in the corbiculae adhered with resin and/or leaving the colonies with the seeds clipped in their jaws. Eighty seeds were collected inside the colonies (mixed with the batume in the litter and/or cracks), and also outside them, near the entrance of the colony, as a result of the falling of corbiculae during the flight of the bee-workers. These seeds were planted in seedbeds for seedling production and posterior identification of the botanical species. As a way to confirm the scattering of the seeds, searches were done in the field (in an area of approximately 3km of extension), as well as observations of the collection of the seeds made by the bees. A total of 170 seedlings of Z. racemosa were found in the outskirts of the GPA-INPA meliponary and 160 in the Vale Verde meliponary. The results indicate that M. compressipes and M. seminigra collect and scatter the seeds of Z. racemosa.