Abstract

CALIZAYA-MELO, Yeison Andru; AGUILAR, Marlene Lucía  and  LOPEZ TEJEDA, Evaristo. High Andean bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in Arequipa, Peru. Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2021, vol.26, n.3, pp.295-302.  Epub Jan 21, 2022. ISSN 0120-548X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v26n3.86011.

The present study describes the wild bee population in the Puna province of the Andean Region, in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, Arequipa, Peru. Sampling was carried out for seven months in three representative areas of the Polylepis forest and Yaretal ecosystem between 3900 to 4300 m above sea level using two methods (entomological net and pan traps [yellow plates]). A total of 545 specimens were collected, belonging to four families, ten genera, and 26 morphospecies. Halictidae presented the greatest abundance of individuals (475; 87.1 %), followed by Megachilidae (43 individuals; 7.7 %), Colletidae (21 individuals; 3.8 %), and Apidae (6 individuals; 1 %). The most abundant and diverse genus was Caenohalictus, with eight morphospecies and 466 individuals. In addition, two kleptoparasitic species were collected: Acanthopus and Sphecodes. The sampling areas below 4100 m showed greater species richness, whereas the sampling over 4100 m showed a decrease in diversity. Sampling by entomological net was the most effective method for determining species richness (21; 81 %), and the sampling by pan traps for determining individual abundance (485; 89 %). The results show the considerable richness of bee species in the high Andean areas and highlight the need for further studies of bees in this and other ecoregions of Peru.

Keywords : Conservation; diversity; inventories; neotropic; wild bees.

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