Chemical Profile of Elements in the Stingless Bee Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) from Sites with Distinct Anthropogenic Activities.

Stingless bees are pollinators in forests and crops that, during foraging, may be exposed to several environmental xenobiotics, including metallic elements. This study evaluated the presence of magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) over the body surface of the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris visiting areas with different anthropogenic activity levels. The analyses were carried out using scanning electron microscopy with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/XEDS) and all tested elements were identified.

Chemical Profile of Elements in the Stingless Bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Bees represent efficient bioindicators of environmental contamination, including elements that can accumulate in both biomes and bee-derived products. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of metallic elements over the body surface of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides workers from rural and urban areas from Caatinga in Brazil. Using SEM/XEDS (scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) identified magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the corbiculae of bees.

Morphogenetic Alterations in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Associated with Pesticides.

Bees are major pollinators of both native flora and cultured crops. Nonetheless, despite their key functional role in ecosystems and agriculture, bee populations have been affected worldwide by deforestation and contamination by insecticides. Conversely, little is known about the effects of pesticides on morphogenetic development of neotropical stingless bees.

Melipona mondury produces a geopropolis with antioxidant, antibacterial and antiproliferative activities.

Geopropolis is a special type of propolis produced by stingless bees. Several pharmacological properties have been described for different types of geopropolis, but there have been no previous studies of the geopropolis from Melipona mondury. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities of M.

An optimized protocol for DNA extraction in plants with a high content of secondary metabolites, based on leaves of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. (Leguminosae).

Some species are characterized by a high content of tannins, alkaloids, and phenols in their leaves. These secondary metabolites are released during DNA extraction and might hinder molecular studies based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction). To provide an efficient method to extract DNA, Mimosa tenuiflora, an important leguminous plant from Brazilian semiarid region used in popular medicine and as a source of fuelwood or forage, was used.