Foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of five bee species on guava (Psidium guajava L.) flowers.

Abstract

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a native plant of the Americas with a great value in Brazilian economy, especially for the industry and commerce of fruits in natura. The present work was carried out in the farm Frutace, county of São Gonçalo do Amarante, state of Ceará, Brazil. This investigation aimed to identify the most successful floral visitors for the pollination of guava, describe their foraging pattern on guava flowers as well as their response on the productivity of guava fruit. Paloma cultivar data were collected from September, 1999 to March, 2000. It was observed that the floral visitors were: the honey bee Apis mellifera, the stingless bees Melipona subnitida, Partamona cupira and Trigona spinipes and the carpenter bee Xylocopa frontalis. However, only A. mellifera, M. subnitida and X. frontalis showed conducive foraging behavior to pollinate guava flowers, but only A. mellifera differentiated to other species producing significantly more fruits after single visits to flowers.