The value of a tree species for a stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata

Published source details Antonini Y. & Martins R.P. (2003) The value of a tree species for a stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata. Journal of Insect Conservation, 7, 167-174.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide nest boxes for stingless bees Action Link
	Legally protect large native trees Action Link

Provide nest boxes for stingless bees

Antonini & Martins (2003) erected 40 nest boxes (25 x 25 x 40 cm) for stingless bees on tree branches 3-5 m above ground, in pristine and degraded cerrado (grass/shrubland) in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in March 1999. None were occupied by any stingless bee colonies, although 48 natural nests were found in the 18 km2 study area. The lack of nest box uptake was thought to be due to an abundance of natural nest sites.
Legally protect large native trees

The cerrado tree Caryocar brasiliense is the only tree species protected by federal regulations in Brazil. A detailed study of nest sites used by the stingless bee species Melipona quadrifasciata in 18 km2 of degraded cerrado (72 plots, each 500 m2) in Minas Gerais, Brazil, found that they almost exclusively nested in C. brasiliense (Antonini & Martins 2003). Forty-six out of 48 nests were found in that species, although there were 55 tree species at the site. The authors argue that M. quadrifasciata is only found in the area because of the protection of C. brasiliense.