Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) diversity and synanthropy in a protected natural area and its influence zone in western Mexico

Abstract

Abstract Mexico’s wild bee richness includes 1,800 species, however, there is a lack of studies on this group in the country. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to intensify the study on this group of insects, so this research aimed to compile an inventory of the melittofauna of Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico, to evaluate alpha diversity in different types of vegetation, and assess which of the most abundant bee species are synanthropic (organisms that live near and benefit from humans and their environmental modifications). Bees were collected and recorded over two years between 10:00 and 16:00 h, in the flora and fauna protection area of Sierra de Quila and its region of influence, using entomological nets. A total of 15,641 individuals of 233 species belonging to 66 genera and five families were recorded, of which Apidae is the best represented family with 88 species, followed by Halictidae with 54 species, Megachilidae with 49 species, Andrenidae with 24 species, and Colletidae with 18 species. Tropical dry forest showed a higher richness of wild bees than the pine-oak forest, eight species were asynanthropic and only five species were eusynanthropic. Our results show that Sierra de Quila is one of the richest areas in bee species for the state of Jalisco, making it an important area for the conservation of this group of native pollinators.