The Ineffectiveness of the Stingless Bee Trigona jaty (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae) as a Pollinator of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

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Abstract
The stingless bee T. jaty frequently visits cocoa (T. cacao) in Central America. In some plantations, it is common and collects much pollen throughout the year. Experiments were conducted in a plantation in northeastern Costa Rica to examine the role of T. jaty as a pollinator of cocoa. The behavior of a thriving colony was observed on 2 cocoa trees in a large screen cage and flower drop and fruit set were compared with those of 2 enclosed trees without bees in a similar cage. Flower drop and fruit set on branches exposed and protected from bees were also examined. T. jaty is not an effective pollinator of cocoa because of its behavior in removing excessive pollen which does not change even when the ratio of bees to flowers is low. Bees collect pollen peripherally from flowers, precluding any contact with the centrally-located stigma. The bees remove much pollen from cocoa flowers, an activity that perhaps reduces the attractiveness of flowers to other insects that might be effective pollinators.

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