Toxicity of Mimosa tenuiflora pollen to Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Vale da Silva, CarolinaXavier de Mesquita, LucieneBorges Maracajá, PatrícioSoto-Blanco, Benito
Background: : : : Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Mimosaceae) is a xerophilous plant which is very common in degraded areas in the Brazilian semi-arid region, including areas of beekeeping. The ingestion of leaves from M. tenuiflora by ruminants is responsible for malformations. Chemical analyses of this plant revealed that it contains several secondary compounds including three triterpenoidal saponins, designated Mimonosides AC, four flavones, five flavanones and four chalcones. Several plant species contain secondary compounds in nectar and pollen that could be toxic to pollinators, including bees. Experimental approaches are necessary to identify plant species that produce pollen that is toxic to bees. The present study aimed to determine the toxic potential of M. tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Mimosaceae) pollen to Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Materials, Methods & Results: The plant species utilized in this study was Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Mimosaceae) and a voucher specimen was deposited (no. 9591) at the Dárdano de Andrade-Lima (MOSS) Herbarium, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, RN, Brazil. Pollen samples were collected near Mossoró city, RN, in northeastern Brazil (51115"S and 372039"W). Honeycombs that contained pupae of africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) were collected from the apiary of UFERSA. Newly em
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