Distribution and abundance of colonies of selected meliponine species in aCosta Rican tropical wet forest

The goal of this study was to assess territoriality and foraging home range s for stingless bee species; and to develop methods for censusing stingless bee colonies. Colonies of two meliponine bee species, Trigona corvina Cock erell and Trigona amalthea Vachal, were censused using carrion and honey ba its. Trigona corvina and Trigona amalthea are dispersed in a Costa Rican tr opical wet forest (La Selva) so that foraging ranges of the colonies are no n-overlapping. The nest density was c. 0.25 ha(-1) for T. amalthea and 1.0 ha(-1) for T, corvina. T, corvina visited carrion baits exclusively, while T. amalthea visited both carrion and honey baits. The identities of T. amal thea colonies were confirmed using a nestmate recognition assay. Partamona peckolti Friese, Plebeia frontalis Friese, and T. fulviventris Guerin also appeared at the baits. The reliability of baiting to determine colony abund ance and distribution is assessed.