Direct sampling technique of bees on Vriesea philippocoburgii (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae) flowers

In our study on Vriesea philippocoburgii Wawra pollination, due to the small proportion of flowers in anthesis on a single day and the damage caused to inflorescences when netting directly on flowers, we used the direct sampling technique (DST) of bees on flowers. This technique was applied to 40 flowering plants and resulted in the capture of 160 specimens, belonging to nine genera of Apoidea and separated into 19 morph species. As DST maintains the integrity of flowers for later bees' visits, it can enhance the survey's performance, constituting an alternative methodology for the collection of bees visiting flowering plants.