The bee community of Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, Southern Brazil, was studied regarding diversity, relative abundance and seasonal activity. The bees were collected on the flowers in two forest areas, during two consecutive days respectively, twice per month, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., during one year. A total of 3,306 bees from 95 species and five families occurring in Brazil were captured. Among them, Apidae was the most abundant (2,860 individuals) and the most diverse family (36 species), followed by Halictidae, with 308 individuals and 26 species. Comparisons with faunas of other communities revealed a lower diversity at our study site. Bees of the families Apidae and Halictidae remained active throughout the year, with a gradual reduction of activity in March and April, when the lowest index of rainfall and the highest temperature were recorded.
Bees; phenology; species richness
