Uso da cera em multiplicações de ninhos de uruçu nordestina (melipona scutellaris, apidae: meliponini)

Abstract

Uruçu Nordestina (Melipona scutellaris) is a stingless bee that belongs to the meliponines group, which has geographic distribution throughout the tropics, and can be considered the most diverse group of social bees in the world. The present study aimed to observe whether the supply of wax for multiplication of uruçu nordestina nests reduces the risk of death in newly multiplied colonies, as well as the preference of bees for different mixtures of wax and cerumen. The results found indicate that, although it does not significantly increases the chance of survival of multiplied nests, the supply of these materials allows greater development and weight gain for the colonies, in addition, the species of bee studied in this work prefers to use its own cerumen at the expense of pure Apis wax.