MELITTOPHILY IN THE SANTOS ZOOBOTANICAL PARK, BRAZIL

The reproduction of angiosperms strongly depends on bee pollination, 
which sustains trophic chains. In Brazil, stingless bees stand out, though they are 
threatened by competition with Africanized bees and urban expansion. We cataloged bee 
species visiting angiosperms in the Zoobotanical Park of Santos (São Paulo State, Brazil), 
where stingless bees are maintained. The most visited plants were Cordyline fruticosa 
and Bauhinia purpurea. The most frequently observed bees were Nannotrigona 
testaceicornis, Plebeia droryana, and Tetragonisca angustula. The presence of Melipona 
quadrifasciata, kept in the Park, was not recorded; however, the competitive Scaura 
longula and the invasive Apis mellifera were detected, highlighting the need to investigate 
possible competition with native species.