Meliponiculture in agroforestry systems in Belterra, Pará, Brazil

Abstract
In this study we characterized the honey production in agroforestry systems and inventing the species visited by stingless bees in the region of Belterra, Pará. We used a questionnaire applied to honey producers with questions that addressed socioeconomic conditions and the production of stingless bees, as well the plant species visited by bees. Fifteen percent of bee breeders have meliponiculture as their main economic activity and 54% live of 1 or 2 minimum wages. The time in meliponiculture activity ranges from 2 to over 40 years. According to the interviewees, they dedicate themselves to meliponiculture due to their affinity with the activity and their awareness of the environmental importance of the bees. The greatest obstacles cited was the deforestation and the use of pesticides, which, according to them, implies a reduction in the production of honey, the main product sold. The agroforestry systems (SAFs) where the meliponaries are inserted present, according to the interviewees, 38 forest species distributed in 21 botanical families. Fruit species predominated, characteristics of primary and secondary forest, indicating potential for introduction into agroforestry yards or other intercropped systems, minimizing the costs of implanting and maintaining meliponaries.