Diversity of Wild Bees and their Mediated Dispersal of Pollen from the Genus Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae) in an Insular Area

A total of 98 bees were collected, belonging to six genera and seven species in flowers of Tillandsia stricta and T. tenuifolia. The bees displayed similar foraging behaviors, visiting flowers in search of nectar, except for Trigona spinipes, which collected pollen in addition to nectar. In some species, as was the case of Bombus atratus and B. morio, most of the pollen was concentrated in the head and thorax. Pollen of the two Tillandsia species were dominant amongst pollen types found on the bees. Specimens of B. atratus, B. morio and T. spinipes, found on the flowers of T. stricta, presented 100% pollen from that plant. Bombus atratus specimens visiting T. tenuifolia, presented 90% pollen from that source and 10% from Mimosa pudica, thus revealing the vertical foraging behavior of this bee species. Bees that visit T. tenuifolia e T. stricta on their flowering are potential dispersers of their pollen.