Euglossine bees (Hymenoptera Apidae Euglossina) on an inselberg in the Atlantic Forest domain of southeastern Brazil

Inselbergs (rocky outcroppings in predominantly plain areas) in the Atlantic Forest domain in Brazil are of interest for studies on faunal and floral because they are mostly isolated from other forested areas through fragmentation processes. In order to describe the importance of a remaining inselberg forest to euglossine bee communities, we studied the composition, diversity and seasonality of the forest on the Morro do Itaoca, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and compared it to other forested areas. Eleven euglossine species belonging to four genera were sampled, the most frequent and abundant being Euglossa cordata (Linnaeus 1758) (45%), Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier 1841 (42%), and Eulaema cingulata Fabricius 1804 (8%). Abundance peaks in the community were strongly determined by Eulaema nigrita during the rainy season and Euglossa cordata during the dry season. There was high similarity in species composition with the other euglossine bee communities studied in northern Rio de Janeiro State. No particular euglossine fauna exists in the area, which instead serves, as a type of refuge for regionally abundant species. Our data demonstrate the importance of this remaining forest area for the maintenance and preservation of bees.