Mutualistic Association between a Tiny Amazonian Stingless Bee and a Wax-Producing Scale Insect1 |
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| Authors: | Joao M. F. Camargo Silvia R. M. Pedro |
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| Affiliation: | Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040–901 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. |
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| Abstract: | The Amazonian stingless bee Schwarzula sp. houses and attends, in its nest, soft scale insects, Cryptostigma sp. (Coc‐cidae), from which obtains sweet secretions (honeydew) for their feeding and additional wax to build their nests. The bees nests in tunnels burrowed by moth larvae in branches of Campsiandra angustifolia, Caesalpiniaceae. |
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| Keywords: | Amazon Coccidae Cryptostigma Meliponini mutualism Schwarzula soft-scale insect: stingless bees. |
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