Species richness, seasonal changes in abundance, distributions of wing damage (bee age) as an estimate of period of bees emergence and fragrance preference were studied by attracting male Euglossinae to chemical baits. The Euglossinae were sampled in ciliary forests from the village of Ibiraba (10º 48' S e 42º 50' W), semi-arid of Bahia, from September (1996) to July (1997). The males attracted to the scents baits were captured using collecting nets and traps. A total of 527 males distributed in five species and three genera were collected. Eucaliptol was the most attractive bait, attracting males from all species and 87.9% of the collected specimens, followed by vanillin, benzyl benzoate and eugenol. Methyl salicilate was not an attractive scent ba<A HREF="mailto:edneves@ufba.br">i</A>t. The male bees were more abundant between May and July, months immediately following the wet period. Euglossa cordata L., Euglossa fimbriata Rebêlo & Moure e Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier were the predominant bee species, consisting of 97,2% of the collected specimens. Euplusia melaena Moure sp. n., Euglossa securigera Dressler, Euglossa melanotricha Moure e Euplusia aridicula Moure & Neves sp. n. represented together only 2,8% of the total sample. Young males (with no wing wear) were the most abundant during all the year.
Insecta; bees; community; chemical baits
