Abstract Background: Floral microstructure, with multiple functions, is very important in pollination biology. Questions: Are the expected general characteristics of corolla micromorphology fulfilled in the selected species with different pollination systems? Studied species: Agave americana, Arbutus unedo, Aristolochia paucinervis, Cestrum nocturnum, Cytinus hypocistis subsp. macranthus, C. ruber, Dianthus lusitanus, Grevillea robusta, Musa x paradisiaca, Nicotiana glauca, Stellaria media and Teucrium fruticans. Study site and dates: Southern Spain, 2017-2019. Methods: Floral micromorphological characters were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy and analyzed using different statistical tests. Results: The adaxial side of the corolla lobes in melittophilous, myrmecophilous, psychophilous and sapromyophilous species showed papillose cells, and the same was true of the sphingophilous species Cestrum nocturnum and hummingbird-pollinated Nicotiana glauca. In contrast, tabular cells were observed in the perching-pollinator ornithophilous species Grevillea robusta, the two studied chiropterophilous species, and autogamous Stellaria media. In addition, corolla mesophyll was thicker in chiropterophilous species. Furthermore, differences were detected in cell turgidity (in protogynous Aristolochia paucinervis) and in mesophyll thickness between male and female flowers (Cytinus). Conclusions: Papillose cells were present in corollas in physical contact with pollinators, as expected, but also appeared in corollas of some other species without such contact. We recommend that studies of dichogamous and unisexual species include comparisons of corolla micromorphology between sexual states, as differences may exist in cell turgidity or mesophyll thickness. We also caution against the widespread view that certain types of pollinators do not mechanically interact with the epidermal surface of the corolla.

Resumen: Antecedentes: La microestructura floral posee gran importancia en biología de la polinización, con múltiples funciones. Preguntas: ¿Se cumplen los patrones esperados de micromorfología de la corola en las especies seleccionadas? Especies de estudio: Agave americana, Arbutus unedo, Aristolochia paucinervis, Cestrum nocturnum, Cytinus hypocistis subsp. macranthus, C. ruber, Dianthus lusitanus, Grevillea robusta, Musa x paradisiaca, Nicotiana glauca, Stellaria media y Teucrium fruticans. Sitio y años de estudio: Sur de España, 2017-2019. Métodos: Micromorfología floral estudiada a MO y MEB y analizada mediante pruebas estadísticas. Resultados: La cara adaxial de los lóbulos corolinos en las especies melitófilas, mirmecófilas, psicófilas y sapromófilas mostró células papilosas, pero también en la esfingófila Cestrum nocturnum y en la ornitófila por colibríes Nicotiana glauca. Presentaron células tabulares la ornitófila perchera Grevillea robusta, las dos especies quiropterófilas y la autógama Stellaria media. Además, el mesofilo de las quiropterófilas fue más grueso. Finalmente, hubo diferencias en la turgencia celular (A. paucinervis, protógina) y en el grosor del mesofilo entre las flores masculinas y femeninas (Cytinus). Conclusiones: Se cumplió el patrón esperado de existencia de células papilosas en corolas que contactan físicamente con los polinizadores, pero también aparecieron en corolas sin tal contacto. En especies con dicogamia y unisexualidad es aconsejable estudiar la microestructura corolina diferenciando entre los dos estados sexuales, ya que la turgencia celular o el grosor del mesofilo podrían diferenciarlos. También advertimos contra la amplia opinión de que ciertos tipos de polinizadores no interaccionan mecánicamente con la superficie epidérmica de la corola.

Resumo A identificação da flora com potencial meliponícola é fundamental para a preservação das abelhas, além de possibilitar o desenvolvimento de programas de manejo de polinizadores e reflorestamento. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo investigar os tipos de pólen encontrados nos potes de mel e pólen da abelha Melipona fasciculata em Arari-Ma, durante o período de agosto de 2022 a julho de 2023. Foram identificados 40 tipos de pólen distribuídos em 18 famílias botânicas, com destaque para Fabaceae (46,15% nos potes de pólen e 37,86% nos potes de mel), Myrtaceae (11,53% em pólen e 13,51% em mel) e Rubiaceae com 7,69% em pólen e 5,40% em mel. Sapindaceae, nos potes de mel, representou 5,40%. As demais famílias apresentaram percentuais menores, sendo 3,84% nos potes de pólen e 2,70% nos potes de mel. Quanto à similaridade, tanto nos potes de pólen quanto nos de mel, foram observados dois grupos distintos. Nos potes de pólen, o grupo A (mai-jun ~ 97%) e o grupo B (fev-mar ~ 99%) se destacaram, enquanto nos potes de mel, o grupo A (mar-abr ~ 98%) e o grupo B (jun-jul-set ~ 98%) apresentaram maiores percentuais. Essas descobertas ressaltam a ampla gama de recursos utilizados pela espécie M. fasciculata, bem como sua preferência por Fabaceae e Myrtaceae, devido à diversidade e disponibilidade dos recursos tróficos. A compreensão da flora meliponícola é fundamental para embasar estratégias eficazes de conservação, que visam não apenas garantir a sobrevivência das abelhas, mas também assegurar a continuidade da produção de mel, um recurso de grande importância para as comunidades locais. abelhas reflorestamento contexto ArariMa, ArariMa Arari Ma, Ma Arari-Ma 202 2023 4 1 botânicas 46,15% 4615 46 15 (46,15 3786 37 86 37,86 , 11,53% 1153 11 53 (11,53 1351 13 51 13,51 769 7 69 7,69 540 5 5,40 Sapindaceae menores 384 3 84 3,84 270 2 70 2,70 similaridade distintos maijun mai jun 97% 97 fevmar fev mar 99% 99 destacaram marabr abr 98% 98 junjulset jul set M tróficos conservação locais 20 46,15 461 (46,1 378 8 37,8 11,53 115 (11,5 135 13,5 76 6 7,6 54 5,4 38 3,8 27 2,7 9 46,1 (46, 37, 11,5 (11, 13, 7, 5, 3, 2, 46, (46 11, (11 (4 (1 (

Abstract The identification of meliponicultural flora is fundamental for the preservation of bees, as well as enabling the development of pollinator management and reforestation programs. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the types of pollen found in the honey and pollen pots of the Melipona fasciculata bee in Arari, State of Maranhão, between August 2022 and July 2023. 40 types of pollen were identified, distributed among 18 botanical families, with Fabaceae standing out (46.15% in pollen pots and 37.86% in honey pots), Myrtaceae (11.53% in pollen and 13.51% in honey) and Rubiaceae (7.69% in pollen and 5.40% in honey). Sapindaceae, in the honey pots, accounted for 5.40%. The other families showed lower percentages, 3.84% in the pollen pots and 2.70% in the honey pots. In terms of similarity, two distinct groups were observed in both the pollen and honey pots. In the pollen pots, group A (May-June ~ 97%) and group B (Feb-Mar ~ 99%) stood out, while in the honey pots, group A (Mar-Apr ~ 98%) and group B (Jun-Jul-Sept ~ 98%) showed the highest percentages. These findings highlight the wide range of resources used by the M. fasciculata species, as well asits preference for Fabaceae and Myrtaceae, due to the diversity and availability of trophic resources. An understanding of the meliponicultural flora is essential to support effective conservation strategies, which aim not only to guarantee the survival of the bees, but also to ensure the continued production of honey, a resource of great importance to local communities. bees programs context Arari Maranhão 202 2023 4 identified 1 46.15% 4615 46 15 (46.15 3786 37 86 37.86 , pots) 11.53% 1153 11 53 (11.53 1351 13 51 13.51 7.69% 769 7 69 (7.69 540 5 5.40 honey. . Sapindaceae percentages 384 3 84 3.84 270 2 70 2.70 similarity MayJune May June 97% 97 FebMar Feb Mar 99% 99 MarApr Apr 98% 98 JunJulSept Jun Jul Sept M species strategies communities 20 46.15 461 (46.1 378 8 37.8 11.53 115 (11.5 135 13.5 7.69 76 6 (7.6 54 5.4 38 3.8 27 2.7 9 46.1 (46. 37. 11.5 (11. 13. 7.6 (7. 5. 3. 2. 46. (46 11. (11 7. (7 (4 (1 (

Abstract Animal pollination plays a key role in global agricultural production and especially of monoecious crops, which are essentially dependent on pollinators. The West Indian gherkin fruit (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) is a monoecious vegetable adaptable to adverse abiotic conditions, resistant to diseases, and rich in minerals and vitamins, thus being a relevant alternative for improving nutritional security of socioeconomically vulnerable populations. The knowledge on the influence of pollination and of specific pollinators on chemical characteristics of fruits would help pollinators’ management, but it is still poorly understood. In this study we investigated the influence of pollination on quantitative and qualitative aspects of fruits fruits of West Indian gherkin fruits (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Data on pollination biology and on fruits resulted from controlled crosses (open-OP, cross-CP and Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 pollinations) were compared among crosses: number, length, weight, number of seeds, firmness and chemical traits related to flavor and shelf life. Flowers were pollinated by four bee species, and Apis mellifera was the most frequent. followed by two native bee species. OP and A. mellifera resulted in more fruits than CP. Fruits resulting from OP were heavier than CP and had similar weight when compared to A. mellifera. The other variables did not differ between treatments. The better performance of OP and A. mellifera when compared to CP is probably related to the xenia, i.e., the influence of tissues bearing paternal genes (pollen and pollen tube) in maternal tissues. OP and A. mellifera experiments apparently resulted in the deposition of a greater genotypic diversity of the pollen loads when compared to CP. This result is also explained by the higher functional diversity of pollinators related to OP when compared to CP. This study not only elucidates immediate impacts on yield but also emphasizes the deeper connections between floral biology, pollinator diversity, and sustainable crop production, once West Indian gherkin profit was enhanced by bee pollination. crops Cucumis L L. Cucurbitaceae conditions diseases vitamins populations management understood semiarid semi arid region openOP, openOP open OP, (open-OP crossCP cross Linnaeus 175 pollinations length seeds life species frequent A treatments xenia ie i e i.e. tube 17 i.e 1

Resumo A polinização animal desempenha um papel fundamental na produção agrícola global e especialmente nas culturas monóicas, que são essencialmente dependentes de polinizadores. O maxixe das Índias Ocidentais (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) é uma hortaliça monóica adaptável a condições abióticas adversas, resistente a doenças e rica em minerais e vitaminas, sendo assim uma alternativa relevante para melhorar a segurança nutricional de populações socioeconomicamente vulneráveis. O conhecimento sobre a influência da polinização e de polinizadores específicos nas características químicas dos frutos ajudaria no manejo dos polinizadores, mas é pouco compreendido. Neste estudo investigamos a influência da polinização nos aspectos quantitativos e qualitativos de frutos do semiárido brasileiro. Dados de biologia da polinização e de frutos resultantes de cruzamentos controlados (OP-polinização aberta, CP-cruzada e Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) foram comparados entre cruzamentos: número, comprimento, peso, número de sementes, firmeza e características químicas relacionadas ao sabor e prazo de validade. As flores foram polinizadas por quatro espécies de abelhas, sendo Apis mellifera a mais frequente. OP e A. mellifera resultaram em mais frutos que CP. Os frutos resultantes de OP foram mais pesados que os de CP e apresentaram peso semelhante quando comparados aos de A. mellifera. As demais variáveis não diferiram entre os tratamentos. O melhor desempenho de OP e A. mellifera quando comparado ao CP provavelmente está relacionado à xenia, ou seja, à influência dos tecidos portadores de genes paternos (pólen e tubo polínico) nos tecidos maternos. Experimentos com OP e A. mellifera aparentemente resultaram na deposição de maior diversidade genotípica das cargas polínicas quando comparados com CP. Este resultado também é explicado pela maior diversidade funcional dos polinizadores relacionados ao OP quando comparado ao CP. Este estudo não apenas elucida os impactos imediatos no rendimento, mas também enfatiza as conexões mais profundas entre a biologia floral, a diversidade de polinizadores e a produção agrícola sustentável, uma vez que o lucro do maxixe das Índias Ocidentais foi aumentado mesmo quando polinizado por uma espécie de abelha exótica. monóicas Cucumis L L. Cucurbitaceae adversas vitaminas vulneráveis compreendido brasileiro OPpolinização aberta CPcruzada cruzada Linnaeus 1758 comprimento sementes validade abelhas frequente tratamentos xenia seja pólen polínico maternos rendimento floral sustentável exótica 175 17 1

Abstract The honey bee Apis mellifera is a plant-pollinator that produces commercial products. It has female castes with workers performing tasks in the colonies and a queen, it has the longest lifespan, in charge of reproduction. This bee undergoes a population decline worldwide. Therefore, it is important to understand how aging affects the digestive tract of this insect. In the midgut, regenerative cells are organized in nests replacing the dead cells. This study verified the hypothesis that the number of regenerative cells decreases as A. mellifera queen ages. The midgut was evaluated in queens at the age of four days and eight, 11 and 25 months. The midgut of 11- and 25-month-old queens presented signs of epithelial disorganization in comparison with younger queens. The number of regenerative cell nests in the midgut decreases according to the age of the queen, but the number of cells per nest is similar. The decreased number of regenerative cell nests reveals a potential loss in the amount of these cells available for the renewal of the midgut epithelium. The absence of variations in the number of regenerative cells per nest according to the queen age indicates that these cells do not undergo proliferation before the differentiation. plantpollinator plant pollinator products lifespan reproduction worldwide Therefore insect A ages eight 1 2 months 25monthold monthold month old similar epithelium differentiation

ABSTRACT The economic exploration of pear in the subtropical areas is possible when using hybrid cultivars obtained by crossing European (Pyrus communis) and Asian cultivars (Pyrus pyrifolia). Genetic improvement programs in Brazil have launched some cultivars in recent decades. Pear requires cross-pollination to improve fruit set in commercial plantations. In the case of these hybrid pear trees, the combinations of pollen receptor and donor cultivars that are best for cultivation in subtropical regions are not known. The objective of this study was to select cultivars with the potential to be pollinators of pear trees in subtropical regions. Four cultivars that received pollen grains (mother plants) (‘Packham’s Triumph’, ‘Tenra’, ‘Triunfo’, and ‘Seleta’) and three donors (‘Cascatense’, ‘Primorosa’, and ‘Shinseiki’) were used. Stigmatic receptivity was observed in all cultivars during all stages of reproductive development. All cultivars had highly viable pollen grains. The cultivar ‘Seleta’ was the best recipient cultivar. The ‘Seleta’ × ‘Shinseiki’ cross showed the highest percentages of fruiting. The highest percentages of pistils with pollen tubes reaching the ovary were observed in the crosses ‘Triunfo’ × ‘Shinseiki’ and ‘Seleta’ × ‘Shinseiki’. The ‘Shinseiki’ pear is an option as a pollinator of crops in subtropical regions. Pyrus communis pyrifolia. pyrifolia . pyrifolia) decades crosspollination pollination plantations known mother plants ‘Packhams Packhams ‘Packham s Packham Triumph, Triumph , Triumph’ ‘Tenra, Tenra ‘Tenra ‘Tenra’ ‘Triunfo, Triunfo ‘Triunfo ‘Seleta Seleta ‘Cascatense, Cascatense ‘Cascatense (‘Cascatense’ ‘Primorosa, Primorosa ‘Primorosa ‘Primorosa’ ‘Shinseiki Shinseiki used development fruiting ‘Shinseiki. (‘Cascatense

Abstract Tropical plants exhibit virtually all known phenological responses, which can range from near-continuous to brief events, and from complete synchrony to complete asynchrony. This wide variety of phenological patterns is related to high tropical biodiversity and complex interactions with diverse abiotic and biotic factors, such as plant-pollinator interactions. Changes in these factors will therefore influence plant phenology, and differences in those phenological responses can impact reproductive success and plant fitness. We report here interspecific variations in the reproductive ecology (flowering phenology, floral biology, reproductive systems, and pollination) of 10 Myrtaceae species in a gallery forest in northeastern, Brazil. We evaluated flowering patterns and strategies, considering the frequency and duration of each phenophase from monthly observations, using the semi-quantitative Fournier scale. We also analyzed floral biology, recorded floral visitors, conducted pollination experiments (autonomous self-pollination, hand self-pollination, hand cross-pollination, and natural/open pollination), and calculated sefl-incompatibility (SII) and autogamy (AI) indices. Most species exhibited synchronous and annual flowering lasting between 1 and 5 months, with a “pulsed bang” strategy (i.e., mass flowering concentrated within just a few days, with intervals). These patterns were repeated among congeneric species, except in Myrcia, in which half of the species accompanied were classified as having a “pulsed bang” and the other half a “big bang” strategy. The flowering strategies appeared to be associated with distinct patterns of inflorescence development, bud production, flowering duration, and the timing of flowering in individual plants. Bee species were considered pollinators. Most species studied were self-incompatible and allogamous. In general, the species produced large quantities of flowers during short temporal intervals, favoring crosses between individuals having precise synchrony. nearcontinuous near continuous events asynchrony plantpollinator pollinator phenology fitness biology systems northeastern Brazil observations semiquantitative semi quantitative scale visitors autonomous selfpollination, selfpollination self pollination, self-pollination crosspollination, crosspollination cross cross-pollination naturalopen natural open , seflincompatibility sefl incompatibility SII (SII AI (AI indices months pulsed bang i.e., ie i e (i.e. days intervals. intervals . intervals) Myrcia big development production pollinators selfincompatible incompatible allogamous general i.e. (i.e i.e

Resumo As plantas tropicais exibem quase todos os tipos de respostas fenológicas conhecidas, variando de eventos quase contínuos aos explosivos breves, e de total sincronia à completa assincronia. Essa ampla variedade de padrões fenológicos está relacionada à alta biodiversidade e às diferentes interações com fatores abióticos e bióticos, como as interações planta-polinizador. Portanto, mudanças nesses fatores influenciam a fenologia das plantas e diferenças nas respostas fenológicas podem impactar o sucesso reprodutivo da espécie a aptidão das plantas. Analisou-se a variação interespecífica na ecologia reprodutiva (fenologia da floração, briologia floral, sistemas reprodutivos e polinização) de 10 espécies de Myrtaceae em floresta ciliar, na Chapada Diamantina, Brasil. Avaliaram-se os padrões e estratégias de floração, considerando a frequência e duração da fenofase a partir de observações mensais e de acordo com a escala semiquantitativa de Fournier; também analisaram-se a biologia floral, visitantes florais e conduziram-se experimentos de polinização (autopolinização autônoma, autopolinização manual, polinização cruzada manual e polinização natural/aberta) e calcularam-se os índices de autoincompatibilidade (SII) e autogamia (AI). A maioria das espécies apresentou floração anual, com duração de 1 a 5 meses, alta sincronia e estratégia do tipo pulsed-bang (i.e., floração massiva concentrada em poucos dias intercalados por um intervalo de tempo). Os padrões se repetiram entre espécies congêneres, exceto em Myrcia spp., em que metade das espécies foi classificada como “pulsed bang” e as demais apresentaram estratégia “big bang”. A estratégia de floração parece estar relacionada com o padrão de desenvolvimento das inflorescências, produção dos botões, duração e sincronia da floração dos indivíduos. Abelhas foram consideradas os polinizadores. A maioria das espécies foram auto-incompatíveis e alogâmicas. Em geral, as espécies ofertaram grandes quantidades de flores em pequenos intervalos temporais, favorecendo cruzamentos entre indivíduos com sincronia precisa. conhecidas breves assincronia bióticos plantapolinizador. plantapolinizador planta polinizador. polinizador planta-polinizador Portanto Analisouse Analisou floral ciliar Diamantina Brasil Avaliaramse Avaliaram Fournier analisaramse analisaram conduziramse conduziram autônoma natural/aberta naturalaberta natural aberta calcularamse calcularam SII (SII AI. AI . (AI) anual meses pulsedbang pulsed bang i.e., ie i (i.e. tempo. tempo tempo) congêneres spp spp. big bang. inflorescências botões polinizadores autoincompatíveis auto incompatíveis alogâmicas geral temporais precisa (AI i.e. (i.e i.e

ABSTRACT Soil fauna organisms participate in a series of processes that benefit the physical and chemical soil properties; however, little is known about their spatial variability and scale. This study aimed to characterize the spatial variability of soil fauna from multifractal and joint multifractal analysis in Brazilian Savanna areas. Pitfall traps collected soil fauna in two Savanna formations (dense Savanna and typical Savanna) in two transects with 128 points. Organisms were identified and classified into functional groups (Microphages, Pollinators, Predators and Social), and then Ind trap−1 day−1 (number of individuals per day in the sample) and Richness were determined. Data were analyzed using multifractal and joint multifractal analysis, and the scale indexes f(α,β) were generated for the singularity indexes of α(q,t) and β(q,t), considering Ind trap−1 day−1 and Richness as predictive variables. A total of 3456 and 1629 individuals were collected from T1 (dense Savanna) and T2 (typical Savanna), respectively. The singularity spectrum for soil fauna showed the greatest difference in dimensions D−10–D10 for the functional group Pollinator (D−10–D10 = 0.936) in T1 and for Social (D−10–D10 = 0.620) in T2, reflecting more heterogeneous systems. The joint multifractal dimension showed a high correlation between Ind trap−1 day−1 and the functional groups (Pollinators, Predators, and Social) in T1, demonstrating how phytophysiognomy of this experimental plot (dense Savanna) favors the presence of these organisms and reflects the spatial correspondence of the measurement values along the geometric support. Abundance of organisms (Ind trap−1 day−1) and Richness were promising variables to represent the set of relationships with the functional groups of soil invertebrate fauna. In general, multifractal analysis using abundance and Richness can assist in decision-making focused on conserving Savanna areas. properties however areas dense 12 points Microphages, Microphages (Microphages Pollinators Social, , trap1 trap 1 trap− day1 day− number sample determined fα,β fαβ f α,β α β f(α,β αq,t αqt q,t q t α(q,t βq,t, βqt β(q,t) 345 162 T Savanna, respectively D10D10 DD D 10 D10 D−10–D1 (D−10–D1 0.936 0936 0 936 0.620 0620 620 systems (Pollinators support general decisionmaking decision making fα αβ αq qt βq βq,t β(q,t 34 16 D10D1 D1 D−10–D (D−10–D 0.93 093 93 0.62 062 62 3 D10D 0.9 09 9 0.6 06 6 0.

ABSTRACT Given that the Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes in the world, this study aims to compare alpha and beta diversity of the bee assemblage sampled in a site covered by remnants of the Atlantic Forest, in the municipality of Colombo, Paraná State, with those from ten other sites along the Curitiba Metropolitan Region, previously sampled under similar methodology. Our objective is to analyze if species diversity and composition are influenced by spatial gradients and vegetation cover. The study site’s bee assemblage is composed of 91 species, including Apis mellifera. The assemblage consists of 42 Apinae, 33 Halictinae, eight Megachilinae, five Colletinae, and three Andreninae species. Compared to the other sites, 11 species were sampled exclusively in Colombo, including Bombus brasiliensis Lepeletier, 1836, Centris proxima Friese, 1899, and Trichocerapis mirabilis (Smith, 1865). The most abundant native species were Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (204 individuals), Paratrigona subnuda Moure, 1947 (176) and Scaptotrigona bipunctata (Lepeletier, 1836) (113). Despite its high vegetation cover, Colombo exhibited intermediate values of species richness and diversity when compared to other sites, with a high dominance of Meliponini species. The sites could be separated based on beta diversity and the north–south gradient and vegetation cover were significantly related to species composition at this study’s spatial scale. Understanding the regional communities and the factors that influence species composition is essential for planning effective biodiversity conservation actions. world State Region methodology s 9 mellifera 4 Apinae 3 Halictinae Megachilinae Colletinae 1 Lepeletier 1836 Friese 1899 Smith, Smith (Smith 1865. 1865 . 1865) Fabricius, Fabricius (Fabricius 1793 204 (20 individuals, individuals , individuals) Moure 194 176 (176 (Lepeletier 113. 113 (113) northsouth north south studys scale actions 183 189 186 179 20 (2 19 17 (17 (113 18 2 ( (1 (11

Resumen Introducción. La polinización es importante en gran parte de los sistemas productivos mundiales, tal es el caso del cultivo de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), el cual depende de la actividad de los insectos para su polinización. Objetivo. Recopilar las investigaciones más relevantes que incluyen los factores determinantes en la polinización del cultivo de cacao. Desarrollo. El presente trabajo fue realizado entre 2021 y 2022, con una búsqueda exhaustiva de bibliografía relacionada con la polinización y polinizadores del cultivo de cacao, en artículos científicos, en español, inglés y portugués. La información de obtuvo a partir de bases de datos, repositorios de universidades, revistas de investigación y bibliotecas agropecuarias digitales. La polinización del cultivo de cacao se atribuye a dípteros de la familia Ceratopogonidae, del género Forcipomyia sp, que se observan con mayor abundancia en época lluviosa. La presencia del insecto se ha relacionado con materiales en descomposición presentes en la cobertura del suelo, por su hábito reproductivo, por lo que se considera importante proporcionar refugios con humedad para que las larvas del polinizador puedan desarrollarse. Conclusiones. Comprender las dinámicas de polinización del cacao y los factores que la afectan es esencial para conservar y aumentar los rendimientos de los cultivos, así como los ingresos de los agricultores del mundo. Además, en el cultivo de cacao existen factores bióticos, como la presencia de polinizadores, clones utilizados y arreglos forestales, y factores abióticos, como la precipitación, temperatura, radiación y la cobertura del suelo, que marcan una pauta inicial a tener en cuenta en los sistemas productivos.

Abstract Introduction. Pollination is important in many agricultural systems worldwide, including cocoa cultivation (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation, which relies on insect activity for pollination. Objective. To compile the most relevant research on determining factors in cocoa crop pollination. Development. This work was carried out between 2021 and 2022, with an exhaustive search of literature related to cocoa crop pollination and pollinators in scientific articles, in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Information was obtained from databases, university repositories, research journals, and digital agricultural libraries. The pollination of the cocoa crop is attributed to dipterans of the family Ceratopogonidae, specifically the genus Forcipomyia sp, which are more abundant during the rainy season. The presence of the insect has been associated with decomposing materials in the soil cover, due to its reproductive habits, making it important to provide moist shelters for the development of the pollinator larvae. Conclusions. Understanding cocoa pollination dynamics and the factors that affect it, is essential for conserving and increasing crop yields and farmers' income worldwide. In cocoa cultivation, both biotic factors such as the presence of pollinators, clones used, and forest arrangements, and abiotic factors such as precipitation, temperature, radiation, and soil cover, play an initial role to consider in agricultural systems.

Resumen Dolichothrips indicus (Hood, 1919) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) es frecuente en botones florales, flores e inflorescencias de diferentes especies vegetales, por lo que su papel como posible agente polinizador es considerado en varios estudios. Se registra por primera vez para Colombia la presencia de D. indicus en panículas del cultivo de mango variedad “Azúcar”. Las características morfológicas diagnósticas de la especie se describen e ilustran.

Abstract Dolichothrips indicus (Hood, 1919) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is frequently found in flower buds, flowers and inflorescences of different plant species, so its role as a possible pollinating agent is considered in several studies. The presence of D. indicus in panicles of the “Azúcar” variety mango crop is recorded for the first time in Colombia. The diagnostic morphological characteristics of the species are described and illustrated.

Resumen Las abejas silvestres, Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793 y Apis florea Fabricius, 1787 constituyen una gran parte de la abundancia de polinizadores en la mayoría de las especies de cultivos en Punjab, Pakistán. En el presente estudio, se evaluó el comportamiento de forrajeo de ambas especies de abejas melíferas y se determinó su rol en el rendimiento reproductivo de la fresa en la granja de The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Ambas especies aportan el 53% de la abundancia total de polinizadores. Apis florea presentó una alta frecuencia de visitas (0,449±0,03 individuos por 120 segundos) en comparación con A. dorasta (0,211±0,02). La actividad de A. florea fue la máxima a las 12:00 pm, mientras que A. dorsata se mantuvo activa en baja abundancia durante todo el día. Apis florea exhibió un mayor tiempo de estadía pero una tasa de visitas más baja que A. dorsata. Apis dorsata demostró ser un polinizador más eficaz de la fresa en lugar de A. florea en términos de longitud, peso y diámetro de la fruta. Existe la necesidad de conservar las abejas silvestres bajo el escenario actual de cambios antropogénicos en el uso de la tierra e intensificación en la agricultura.

Abstract The wild honeybees, Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793 and Apis florea Fabricius, 1787 constitute a large proportion of pollinators’ abundance on most crop species in Punjab, Pakistan. In the present study, we studied the foraging behavior of both the honeybee species and their comparative role in the reproductive performance of the strawberry at the research farm of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. Both the species comprised 53% of the total pollinators’ abundance. Apis florea had high visitation frequency (0.449±0.03 individuals per 120 seconds) than ..dorsata (0.211±0.02). The activity of A. florea was the maximum at 12:00 pm while A. dorsata remained active in low abundance throughout the day. Apis florea exhibited a higher stay time but a lower visitation rate than A. dorsata. Apis dorsata proved to be an effective pollinator of the strawberry rather than A. florea in terms of fruit length, weight and diameter. There is a need to conserve wild honeybees under the current scenario of anthropogenic land use changes and intensification in agriculture.

Melon is a pollinator-dependent crop that relies mainly on bees to set fruits. However, man-selected varieties vary in their attractiveness to flower visitors, and some flower genders and melon types may be less visited than others, harming pollination. We investigated the nectar composition of male, female and hermaphrodite flowers of 270 individuals of five commercial melons Cucumis melo (Cantaloupe, Charentais, Galia, Piel de Sapo, and Yellow), and its role in flower visit by Apis mellifera foragers. We found that melon nectar is composed mainly of sugars and amino acids such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and flavonoids kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside, luteolin hexoside, and kaempferol rhamnoside. But the amount of these chemical compounds varies among the flower genders. We also developed an accurate regression model to predict the number of bee visits to melon flowers based on the nectar composition. Our results indicate that nectar composition plays little role in bee discrimination among flowers of different melon types but is essential to the honeybee choice between flower gender. The amounts of phenylalanine (49.40%) and tryptophan (12.05%) in the nectar are related to bee preference for hermaphrodite flowers. More visits to hermaphrodite flowers contribute to setting and developing well-formed fruits, increasing productivity. pollinatordependent pollinator dependent fruits However manselected man selected visitors others pollination male 27 Cantaloupe, Cantaloupe (Cantaloupe Charentais Galia Sapo Yellow, Yellow , Yellow) foragers tyrosine kaempferol3Oneohesperidoside, kaempferol3Oneohesperidoside kaempferolOneohesperidoside 3 O neohesperidoside, neohesperidoside kaempferol-3-O-neohesperidoside hexoside rhamnoside gender 49.40% 4940 49 40 (49.40% 12.05% 1205 12 05 (12.05% wellformed well formed productivity 2 Oneohesperidoside 49.40 494 4 (49.40 12.05 120 1 0 (12.05 49.4 (49.4 12.0 (12.0 49. (49. 12. (12. (49 (12 (4 (1 (

Resumen En la República Argentina la producción de alimentos es la base del desarrollo económico y social. Varios cultivos dependen de la polinización entomófila, por lo que este servicio ecosistémico es relevante. Sin embargo, las prácticas de manejo de la agricultura convencional constituyen una amenaza para los polinizadores silvestres y manejados. En este trabajo, evaluamos el valor económico atribuido a la polinización entomófila (VEP) de los principales cultivos en el período 2013-2018. Las variables consideradas fueron la superficie cosechada, productividad y el valor económico total (VET) A partir de estos datos se estimó el VEP y la vulnerabilidad de las diferentes categorías de cultivos. El VEP para los 27 cultivos analizados alcanzó los 4.437 millones de US$, representando una contribución de los polinizadores del 21,83% del VET y 13,8 millones de toneladas de productos agropecuarios. Las categorías de alimentos con mayor VEP correspondieron a los cultivos industriales, seguidos por los frutales, hortalizas, frutos secos y cítricos. En los cultivos industriales, donde no se utilizan polinizadores manejados, la contribución de los polinizadores fue elevada, alcanzando 3655 millones de US$. Los frutales y hortalizas son los más vulnerables a una eventual disminución o ausencia de polinizadores con tasas de vulnerabilidad estimadas de 68 y 38% respectivamente. Estos resultados evidencian la contribución económica de los polinizadores a la agricultura del país, muestran la alta vulnerabilidad de los sistemas productivos y los efectos en términos cuantitativos de una potencial reducción en la producción de alimentos debida a un déficit de polinización. Finalmente, este trabajo puede resultar útil para orientar la toma de decisiones y establecer políticas públicas tendientes a promover la diversificación y sustentabilidad de los modelos agrícolas para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria

Abstract In Argentina, food production is the basis of economic and social development. Several crops depend on entomophilous pollination. However, wild and managed pollinators are threatened by conventional agricultural management practices. In this work, we evaluate the economic value attributed to entomophilous pollination (EEV) of the main crops between 2013 and 2018. Our study focused on analyses of crops with varying degrees of pollinator dependence in terms, their harvested area, yield and total economic value (EV). The EEV attributed to pollinators and the vulnerability of each crop category were estimated. The EEV attributed exclusively to entomophilous pollination, in the 27 crops analyzed, was US$ 4.437 million, representing a contribution of the pollinators of 21,83% of the EV and 13,8 million tons of agricultural products. The EEV in decreasing order is industrial crops, fruit trees, vegetables, nuts and citrus. In industrial crops, where managed pollinators are not used, the contribution of pollinators was high, reaching US$3.655 million. Fruit trees and vegetables are the most vulnerable to an eventual decrease or absence of pollinators with estimated vulnerability rates of 68 and 38% respectively. These results show the economic contribution of the pollinators to the country's agriculture, the high vulnerability of agroecosystems and the effects in quantitative terms of a potential reduction in food production due to a pollination deficit. Finally, this work may be useful to guide decision-making and establish public policies aimed at promoting diversification and sustainability of agricultural models to guarantee food security

ABSTRACT. The stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula is an important pollinator of different agricultural and native crops. This study evaluated changes in the relative activity of esterases and critical electrolyte concentration in brain cells after exposure to pesticides malathion and thiamethoxam. Lethal concentration 50% showed greater toxicity of thiamethoxam in relation to malathion. Esterases EST-3 and EST-4 (carboxylesterase) were partially inhibited after contamination by contact and ingestion of malathion and contamination by contact with thiamethoxam, suggesting participation of these esterases in the metabolization of these compounds. The lowest critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) was found after contamination by malathion ingestion (0.15 M), indicating changes in gene expression. The alterations observed in the intensity of EST-3 and EST-4 and the chromatin structure indicate that pesticides can act in gene expression and be used as biomarkers of contaminant residues. Furthermore, knowing the susceptibility of T. angustula bees to pesticides, it would be possible to use this species for biomonitoring environmental quality in preserved areas and agroecosystems. ABSTRACT crops 50 EST3 EST 3 EST- EST4 4 carboxylesterase (carboxylesterase compounds CEC (CEC 0.15 015 0 15 (0.1 M, M , M) residues Furthermore T agroecosystems 5 0.1 01 1 (0. 0. (0 (

ABSTRACT The bee Epanthidium tigrinum is native to Brazil and shows potential for use in pollinating agricultural crops. However, the little information available concerning its reproductive and feeding habits has prevented any rational breeding or management of these bees. The aim of this study was to investigate their acceptance of trap nests, and their nesting and foraging behaviour, with a view to understanding the potential of the species for rational breeding. Trap nests were offered, and the females were observed for 16 months to monitor the establishment, building and closing of nests, as well as their architecture and the behaviour of the bees when searching for the resources used to build and provision the nests. The results showed that E. tigrinum performs well in trap nests; prefers cavities with a diameter of around 0.45 cm; depends on other plant resources besides pollen and nectar, such as leaves, fibres and resins, to build its nest; and remains active throughout the year. The study concluded that the species has the potential for use in agricultural pollination programs; however the observed nesting requirements must be taken into account, both in conservation efforts and in zootechnical exploitation when breeding the bee for agricultural pollination, as both can influence the number of constructed nests and cells, and consequently, the size of the pollinator population. crops However offered 1 establishment E 045 0 45 0.4 cm nectar leaves resins nest year programs account cells consequently population 04 4 0.

RESUMO A abelha Epanthidium tigrinum é nativa do Brasil e apresenta potencial para uso na polinização de culturas agrícolas. No entanto, a pouca informação disponível sobre seus hábitos reprodutivos e alimentares tem impedido qualquer criação ou manejo racional dessas abelhas. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a sua aceitação de ninhos-armadilha, e o seu comportamento de nidificação e forrageamento, com vista a compreender o potencial da espécie para a criação racional. Ninhos-armadilha foram oferecidos, e as fêmeas foram observadas por 16 meses para monitorar o estabelecimento, construção e fechamento dos ninhos, bem como suas arquiteturas e o comportamento das abelhas na busca dos recursos utilizados para a construção e provisão dos seus ninhos. Os resultados mostraram que E. tigrinum tem um bom desempenho em ninhos-armadilha; prefere cavidades com diâmetro em torno de 0,45 cm; depende de outros recursos vegetais além do pólen e do néctar, como folhas, fibras e resinas, para construir seu ninho; e permanece ativa durante todo o ano. O estudo concluiu que a espécie tem potencial para uso em programas de polinização agrícola; no entanto, as exigências de nidificação observadas devem ser levadas em consideração, tanto nos esforços de conservação quanto na exploração zootécnica quando criando a abelha para polinização agrícola, pois ambas as situações podem influenciar o número de ninhos e células construídas e, consequentemente, o tamanho da população de polinizadores. agrícolas entanto ninhosarmadilha, ninhosarmadilha armadilha, armadilha ninhos-armadilha forrageamento Ninhosarmadilha Ninhos oferecidos 1 estabelecimento E 045 0 45 0,4 cm néctar folhas resinas ninho ano agrícola consideração consequentemente polinizadores 04 4 0,