Pollen Types Used by the Native Stingless Bee, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille), in an Amazon-Chiquitano Transitional Forest of Bolivia.

Samples of corbicular and stored pollen gathered by Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) in an Amazon-Chiquitano transitional forest during the dry season were analyzed. The pollen spectrum was established as well as the dynamics of the relationship between the stingless bee and the surrounding flora. Pollen samples obtained from three rational hives were subjected to acetolysis and 55 pollen types were identified, the most frequent being from Anadenanthera (Fabaceae), Chenopodiaceae, and Dydimopanax (Araliaceae). Significant differences in pollen families used between hives along the months of collection were found in stored pollen and non-significant differences in corbicular pollen. Mean values of alpha diversity (H') showed T. angustula as a generalist while beta diversity qualitatively showed that pollen composition was similar between two hives both of which differed from the third hive. Pollen types in corbicular and stored pollen were in general related with richness of flowering plants in the foraging area; the pollen offer was less diverse than the pollen collected, and a trend to prefer the collection of pollen from the most abundant flowering species could be discerned. T. angustula showed polylectic feeding habits and a capacity to adapt to food availability.

Isolation, characterization, and biological activity of naphthoquinones from Calceolaria andina L.

Two compounds recognized as responsible for the insecticidal activity of extracts of Calceolaria andina L. (Scrophulariaceae) have been isolated and characterized as 2-(1, 1-dimethylprop-2-enyl)-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and the corresponding acetate, 2-acetoxy-3-(1,1-dimethylprop-2-enyl)-1, 4-naphthoquinone. Their activities against 29 pest species and 9 beneficial species of arthropod from a total of 11 orders have been determined. Activities against homopteran and acarine species are of the same order as those of established pesticides, and, significantly, no cross-resistance is observed for strains resistant to established classes of insecticide. Mammalian toxicities are low.