Effect of Biotic Factors on the Spatial Distribution of Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) in Fragmented Neotropical Habitats

We recorded stingless bee colony abundance and nesting habits in three sites with different anthropogenic activities in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico: (1) agroforestry (7 hacacao crop), (2) grassland (12 ha), and (3) urban area (3 ha). A total of 67 nests were found, representing five stingless bee species, (Lepeletier), (Gu,rin), (Gu,rin), (Dalla Torre), and (Cockerell). The most abundant stingless bee in each site was (> 50%). The primary tree species used by the bees were spp. (Moraceae, 37.8%) and (Boraginaceae, 13.5%). The nest entrance height of (96 +/- 19 cm) was different than the other species, and this bee was the only one that used all different nesting sites. Volatiles analyzed by gas chromatography from pollen collected by the stingless bees differed between bee species, but were highly similar in respect to the fragrances of the pollen collected by the same species at any site. Our data indicate that experienced low heterospecific and high intraspecific foraging overlap especially in the urban site. We observed cluster spatial distribution in grassland and in agroforestry sites. In the urban site, presented random distribution tended to disperse. was the only overdispersed and solitary species.