The community structure of Apoidea of a restricted area of primary dunes in São José de Ribamar, Maranhão, Brazil was analyzed. Standardized samples were taken for one year, 2 times a month, from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the first day and from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the second by two collectors. A total of 3305 individuals of 31 species, belonging to four families (Apidae > Halictidae > Megachilidae > Andrenidae) were collected. Centris with 14 species and 890 individuals was the richest and most abundant genus. The abundance pattern and the richness were very similar to other sand dunes habitats in northeast Brazil. Of the total of bees sampled, 61% were represented by less than 36 individuals. The five most abundant species (more than 177 indivuduals) were: Apis mellifera Linnaeus, Centris (Centris) leprieuri Spinola, Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier, Eufriesea surinamensis Linnaeus and Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) cearensis Ducke. Bees were active throughout the year, with abundance peaks in the highest rainfall periods. Daily activity was greatest between 06:00 and 11:00 a.m., when relative humidity decreased and the temperature increased.
Abundance; coastal dune; diversity; north-eastern Brazil
