The results obtained on the influence of the temperature in the respiratory rate of workers of Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) showed an increase of the oxygen consumption in agreement with the increase of the temperatures. It was also possible to observe a more intense respiratory metabolism in the winter than in the summer, mainly in the temperatures between 30 and 35ºC. The results of the analysis of factorial variance, being compared summer and winter showed significant differences among 15; 20 and 30ºC. Regarding the thermal preferences, it was observed in the winter and in the summer an interval between 20 and 30ºC where the oxygen consumption stabilized showing a possible ideal thermal track for that bee species.
Oxygen consumption; respiratory metabolism; stingless bees
