Md. Breed et al., Distribution and abundance of colonies of selected meliponine species in aCosta Rican tropical wet forest, J TROP ECOL, 15, 1999, pp. 765-777
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.