Honeydew foraging by birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Authors

  • Fagner Daniel Teixeira Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG, Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia
  • Fernando Cesar Cascelli de Azevedo Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei – UFSJ, Campus Dom Bosco, Departamento de Ciências Naturais

Keywords:

trophic connections, excretion, insects, behavior maneuvers, Serra de São José

Abstract

Honeydew foraging by birds has been extensively documented in recent years. However, this interaction has been poorly documented in Brazil, with predominance of few species of birds foraging only in Mimosa scabrella trees. With the objective of describing the behavior of birds interacting with scale insects associated with trees, we conducted a study at the Serra de São José, Tiradentes, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Observations were recorded from June to July 2012. We observed 13 species of birds feeding on honeydew scale insects, eight never previously recorded. We observed individuals using aerial and surface maneuvers to collect the honeydew on the branches or reaching the droppings below the branches. These species were observed foraging individually, in pairs and also in large groups. Our results suggest that honeydew excretion from scale insects associated with Pseudopiptadenia leptostachya trees represents an important energy source for local birds as observed in fragments of Atlantic Forest in the Minas Gerais State, southeast region of Brazil.

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Published

2013-12-01

How to Cite

Teixeira, F. D., & Azevedo, F. C. C. de. (2013). Honeydew foraging by birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Biota Neotropica, 13(4). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1232

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Section

Short Communications
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