Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) are among the most important pollinators of tropical forests. Peru is considered a hotspot of biodiversity of Meliponini, but many areas of this country (e.g., Peruvian Amazon) remain unexplored. We aimed to produce a first inventory of stingless bee species dwelling in humid and seasonally dry forests of northern Peru by combining traditional (morphologically-based) taxonomy and DNA barcoding. Specimens were collected in 2020 at five sites located in San Martin and Piura regions. We identified 12 genera of Meliponini. Among those, Trigona and Plebeia were the most abundant (45.9% and 12.8% respectively), whereas Nannotrigona and Scaura were the least represented ones (2.3%). We assigned a reliable species identification to about 30% of specimens (Trigona amazonensis, T. muzoensis, T. williana, Partamona testacea, Scaura tenuis, Tetragona goettei, and Tetragonisca angustula). Yet, more than a half of the specimens received a provisional identification (e.g., Geotrigona cf. fulvohirta, T. cf. amalthea, T. cf. fuscipennis, T. cf. hypogea, Melipona cf. cramptoni, Partamona cf. epiphytophila, Ptilotrigona cf. perenae, Scaura cf. latitarsis, Tetragona cf. clavipes, Trigonisca cf. atomaria). We also highlighted an extensive polyphyly that affected a number of currently recognized species (e.g., T. fulviventris, T. guianae, Plebeia franki, P. frontalis, M. eburnea, M. illota), whose members were split into various clades. Finally, 16% of individuals failed to be identified at the species level (Trigona sp. 1, T. sp. 2, Nannotrigona sp., Partamona sp., Scaptotrigona sp. 1, S. sp. 2, Trigonisca sp. 1, and Trigonisca sp. 2). We discuss our findings according to the current faunistic and biogeographic knowledge of Meliponini in Peru and the Neotropical region. We also remark on the importance of conducting a taxonomic revision of stingless bees and improving both their morphology-based identification keys and BOLD repository. Finally, we claim that integrative taxonomy shall be strongly implemented to truly assess the biodiversity of Neotropical stingless bees, allowing conserving these important pollinators and the associated traditional meliponiculture in an effective manner.

The honeys from stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) are recognized for their medicinal properties. They are commonly used by many indigenous groups around the world. However, in Peru stingless beekeeping is practiced in an artisanal way and the honeys remain products whose qualities are still little studied. The objective of this work was to analyze physicochemical characteristics and microbiological quality of honeys produced by Scaptotrigona polysticta Moure, Melipona illota Cockerell and Tetragonisca angustula Latreille in apiaries of department of San Martin, Peru. In June and November 2019, 30 honey samples were collected from 24 colonies housed in two apiaries in the towns of Tarapoto and Chasuta. Significant differences (p 10 CFU / mL) according Peruvian sanitary norm № 071-Minsa/Digesa-V.01, in 30 and 50% of the samples of S. polysticta and T. angustula, respectively. These results contribute to the knowledge of the stingless bee honeys of Peru providing important references for the quality standard setting process and the advancement of stingless beekeeping.

Stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Meliponini) are a large and diverse group including 59 extant groups, representing the main pollinators of Amazon forests. Among those, Trigona is one of the largest endemic genera of Neotropical Meliponini. In this work, we updated the molecular phylogeny of Trigona proposed by Rasmussen and Camargo (2008), including data from 59 new specimens collected in 2020 in the forests of northern Peru, through a multigene phylogenetic approach combining sequences from four gene fragments (16S, ArgK, EF-1a, opsin). Our results confirmed the monophyly of Trigona and of all proposed subgenera, except Aphaneura. In addition, most Trigona species-groups resulted monophyletic but the ‘spinipes’ and ‘pallens’ groups appeared paraphyletic and polyphyletic, respectively. Moreover, the cohesion of the “fulviventris” species group was hindered by the inclusion of T. williana (previously included in the “pallens” group) within this clade. Finally, we provided further evidence for a subdivision into two (geographically) distinct clades within T. guianae in northern Peruvian Amazon, which highlighted the importance of Neotropical biogeographical barriers in Meliponini divergence and evolution. Finally, to avoid misidentifications of Trigona specimens, the need for a robust taxonomic revision based on a cladistic approach of the whole genus is discussed.

La multiplicación de esporas de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA) es una limitante para las aplicaciones agrícolas como biofertilizantes. En el presente estudio se realizó la multiplicación masiva de HMA procedentes de fincas de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) en la región de San Martín, Perú, para optimizar su manejo y producción de esporas en condiciones ambientales controladas. Se diseñó un experimento en condiciones de invernadero, con un diseño completamente al azar, considerando tres fuentes de inoculo de HMA obtenidas en las provincias de Mariscal Cáceres, Lamas y Rioja, en dos periodos de tiempo (110 y 220 días) y dos cultivos hospedantes (maíz y arroz). Este material fue mezclado con un volumen de arena y tres de tierra agrícola, que fueron colocadas en cajones; transcurrido el periodo de tiempo se evaluó la población de esporas, colonización micorrícica, altura de la planta hospedante y peso seco de la parte aérea y de la raíz. La multiplicación de HMA a los 220 días, procedente de Mariscal Cáceres usando arroz como planta hospedante, demostró ser la más adecuada para la multiplicación de los HMA. El arroz actuó como un huésped adecuado y pudo multiplicar un mayor número de esporas. Se concluye que esta combinación puede ser utilizada como una metodología de propagación masiva de HMA debido a su gran capacidad para reproducirse.

Background: Tetragonisca angustula is a highly adaptable stingless bee in anthropic landscapes, but there are few studies on its trophic relationships and ethology in the Amazon. Hypothesis and objective: Unlike other stingless bees, whose nesting density is regulated by territoriality and the availability of food resources, it is inferred that the nest density of T. angustula is limited by the availability of nesting spaces. To demonstrate it, the trophic-structural niche variations of T. angustula colonies were compared in the Seasonal Dry Forest of the Central Huallaga region, Peruvian Amazon. Methodology: Between 2019 and 2023, nests of this species were studied in an agroforestry landscape dominated by remnant secondary forest (N) and an urban community (U). The ecological niche amplitude Bi was estimated from data of nesting frequency by substrate B1 (rock crevices, trees, concrete, dry mud, plastic, pottery, wooden boxes, ground) and nest distance above or below ground level B2. Structural niche overlapping Oij was calculated, as well as nest density and foraging range. Flowering patterns of plants visited by the species and changes in the vegetation landscape were assessed. Results: Of 23 nests, 30% were found in the field and the remaining 70% in the urban area. Structural nest niche by substrate type and height above ground level showed a greater amplitude in urban (BU1=0.62 and BU2=0.59, respectively) compared to natural landscapes (BN1=0.17 and BN2=0.33) with overlaps OUN1= 0.00 and OUN2=0.83. A higher density and clustering of nests was found in the urban area. Of the 59 morphospecies of bee flora, 48% were trees and 52% shrubs, climbers and herbs; 80% native and 20% exotic, and 80% wild and 20% cultivated, ensuring a floristic supply throughout the year. Implications: A new ecological basis for the recovery of landscapes and productive strategies for T. angustula are provided. Conclusion: Limiting nesting space is the main factor determining T. angustula density.

La investigación buscó determinar la dominancia cromática de carga de polen corbicular y mieles colectadas por Apis mellifera L., a partir del análisis organoléptico y físico-químico. Se tomaron muestras de miel y polen siguiendo las Buenas Prácticas de Manejo Apícola. Se realizó la técnica de acetólisis para las observaciones, mediciones e identificación a nivel de familia de los granos de polen; la medición se realizó con el auxilio de microscopía óptica a 1000x. Las muestras de polen corbicular fueron separadas de acuerdo a características de color con la finalidad de corroborar que cada grupo corresponde a un mismo taxón. Se diferenciaron dos grupos de mieles según su origen geográfico y botánico: de Zapatero, miel bifloral, se registraron 14 tipos polínicos, con predominancia de los taxones Urticaceae y Moraceae (87,83%) y de la Banda de Shilcayo, miel multifloral, se registraron 14 tipos polínicos, donde sobresalen Solanaceae con 40,42% y Arecaceae con 10,33%. La miel de la Banda de Shilcayo atribuye una coloración ambar, cuya tonalidad parda contiene mayor acidez (pH=3,375) y conductividad eléctrica (CE=0,673 µS/cm); la miel de Zapatero se califica una coloración blanca, por tener un tono ligeramente claro contiene menor acidez (pH=4,276) y conductividad eléctrica (CE=0,582 µS/cm).