Abelhas (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) da região setentrional do Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

The apifauna of Maranhao is unknown for most of the State, especially in its southern half. In the north, there is a complex, abundant and varied fauna, represented by five family of bees: Apidae (45 genera, 104 species), Colletidae (one genus), Halictidae (11 genera,14 species), Megachilidae (five genera, four species) and Andrenidae (three genera, four species). The fauna contains typical groups of the Amazonia region and other groups with a widespread distribution in the Neotropics, as well as elements from the dry region of Central Brazil. The superposition of these elements characterizes the State of Maranhao as a transitional region between the Amazonia, the cerrado domain and the caatinga of northeastern Brazil. RESUMO. Grande parte do Estado do Maranhao tem sua apifauna praticamente desconhecida, especialmente, sua porcao meridional. No norte, existe uma fauna variada, complexa e abundante, representada por cinco familias de abelhas: Apidae (45 generos, 104 especies, Colletidae (um genero), Halictidae (11generos, 14 especies), Megachilidae (cinco generos, quatro especies) e Andrenidae (tres generos, quatro especies). Estao presentes grupos tipicos da regiao Amazonica, outros grupos com ampla distribuicao no Neotropico, alem de elementos da regiao mais seca do Brasil Central. A superposicao de grupos e devida a transicao que caracteriza o Estado do Maranhao entre a Amazonia, o dominio dos cerrados e das caatingas nordestinas. KEYWORS. Bees; Hymenoptera; Apoidea; geographic distribution; Maranhao State.