Melipona capixaba
Melipona capixaba | |
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Melipona capixaba | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Melipona |
Species: | M. capixaba
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Binomial name | |
Melipona capixaba (Moure & Camargo, 1994)
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Geographical distribution of Melipona capixaba hives (black spots) in the Espírito Santo State, Brazil |
Melipona capixaba, popularly known as uruçu negra (black uruçu), is a species of eusocial stingless bees of the order Hymenoptera. It is endemic in the mountainous region of the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, and it has been included since 2003 on the list of threatened species produced by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment; the only eusocial insect on this list.[1]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/A_Melipona_capixaba.jpg/220px-A_Melipona_capixaba.jpg)
The common name uruçu comes from Tupi "eiru su", which in the indigenous language means "big bee".
Due to the endemism and small population size, this species was not discovered until 1994 is now considered “vulnerable to extinction”.[2] Despite its ecological importance as pollinator few studies have examined the ecology and biology of this bee.[3]
This bee is responsible for pollinating orchids within its distribution.[3] In the region it is considered as a flagship species and has been used to raise awareness about the environmental impacts caused by deforestation.
Given its endemism, local adaptation and low number of natural colonies, efforts for the conservation of Melipona capixaba should focus on preservation and increasing the number of colonies in the wild, so that M. capixaba can withstand the effects of habitat deforestation in Espírito Santo State.[2]
References
- ^ Ramos, Josemar de Carvalho. Estrutura genética de Melipona capixaba Moure e Camargo, 1994 (Hymenoptera: Apidae): UFV, Viçosa - 2009.
- ^ a b Nogueira, Juliano · Ramos, Josemar de Carvalho · Benevenuto, Juliana · Fernandes-Salomão, Tânia Maria · Resende, Helder Canto · Campos, Lucio Antonio de Oliveira Campos · Tavares, Mara Garcia. Conservation study of an endangered stingless bee (Melipona capixaba—Hymenoptera: Apidae) with restricted distribution in Brazil. Journal of Insect Conservation 18(3):317-326 · May 2014.
- ^ a b Helder C. Resende; Fábio de Barros; Lúcio A.O. Campos; Tânia M. Fernandes-Salomão. Visitation of orchid by Melipona capixaba Moure & Camargo (Hymenoptera: Apidae), bee threatened with extinction. Neotrop. entomol. vol.37 no.5 Londrina Sept./Oct. 2008.
External links