Abstract:
A study to determine the species richness and spatial distribution of five
meliponine bee species in three different habitats in the Kakamega forest was undertaken
for the first time. Two forest (indigenous and mixed indigenous) and two grassland (with
Eucalyptus
spp. trees and indigenous trees) types, along with homesteads (in the vicinity of
mixed indigenous forest and indigenous forest, respectively), were surveyed. Line
transect methods were used in the nest survey in each habitat. The highest number of
species was recorded in the indigenous forest, while no nest was discovered in the
grassland with
Eucalyptus
spp. trees. The mean number of nests per transect was higher in
homesteads followed by the indigenous forest. The nesting pattern of almost all species
nesting in the indigenous forest, mixed indigenous forest (
Meliponula bocandei
[Spinola])
and grassland with indigenous tree species (
Meliponula ferruginea
[Lepeletier] reddish
brown) was dispersed. The nesting pattern of
M. ferruginea
(reddish brown) and
Hypotrigona gribodoi
(Magretti) changed from a dispersed and random pattern,
respectively, to a clumped nesting pattern when nesting in homesteads. The degree of
nest clustering was low for
M. ferruginea
(reddish brown) and high for
H. gribodoi
.
Differences in average nearest-neighbour distance were observed within species nesting in
a dispersed or clumped pattern. This study reveals that habitat type in the Kakamega
forest influences the species richness and nesting pattern of the five stingless bee species.
