Bees are one of the most important groups of pollinators in the globe. Wild bees are responsible for reproduction of wild plant species but also of plants consumed by humans through pollination. Despite the pivotal role of wild bees in the stability of ecosystem services, recent reports on bee population dynamics agree that wild bees are being threatened with reduction of its diversity/abundance especially in agricultural environments. I am a behavioral ecologist with a background in the natural history of wild bees, bee-plant interactions and molecular ecology. My research is based on experimental biology at the laboratory and at (semi) field levels. Currently I am coordinating a project “Wild bee reproduction”. The aim of the project is to enhance our overall knowledge over the role of organic farming practices in wild bee conservation. Moreover, I perform experiments to assess potential causes of bee decline on agricultural fields by studying the effect of environmental stressors on behavioral dynamics and its consequence in the reproduction of wild bees.

Lastly, I am part of the coordinating group of the project BRASILICO, in Brazil. In this collaborative study, we are performing a simultaneous and systematical monitoring of wild bees at a common plant species (basil).

You can also find me on ResearchGate

 

2024

Boff S, Olberz S, Gülsoy IG, Preuß M, Raizer J, Ayasse M (2024). Conventional agriculture affects sex communication and impacts local population size in a wild bee. Sci Total Env 954:176319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176319

Boff S & Ayasse M (2024). Exposure to sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone alterssexual behavior and cuticular hydrocarbon profile inHeriades truncorum, an oligolectic solitary bee. Insect Science 31: 859-869. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.13268

Boff S, da Luz CFP, Raizer J et al (2024). Deforestation narrows pollen diet diversity of generalist orchid bees. J Insect Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-024-00575-2

Boff S, Somavilla A (2024). Scientific note on a Neotropical wasp preying on stingless bees. Apidologie 55: 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01063-x

2023

Boff S, Ayasse M (2023). Exposure to sublethal concentration of flupyradifurone alterssexual behavior and cuticular hydrocarbon profile inHeriades truncorum, an oligolectic solitary bee. Insect Science 0: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7917.13268

2022

Ganuza C, Ayasse M & Boff S (2022). Chemical and Mechanical Signals Trigger Courtship in the Wild Large-Headed Resin Bee Heriades truncorum. J Insect Behav. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-022-09808-1

Boff S, Keller A, Raizer J and Lupi D (2022). Decreased efficiency of pollen collection due to Sulfoxaflor exposure leads to a reduction in the size of bumble bee workers in late European summer. Front. Ecol. Evol. 10:842563. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.842563

Boff S, Conrad T, Raizer J, Wehrhahn M, Bayer M, Friedel A, Theodorou P, Schmitt T & Lupi D (2022). Low toxicity crop fungicide (fenbuconazole) impacts reproductive male quality signals leading to a reduction of mating success in a wild solitary bee. Journal of Applied Ecology, 00, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14169

Boff S (2022). Mating behaviour of the large-head resin bee Heriades truncorum (Megachilidae: Osminii) suggests female plastic strategy in selection of a mating partner and male quality assessment. Apidologie 53, 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-022-00916-7

2021

Boff S, Scheiner R, Raizer J, Lupi D (2021). Survival rate and changes in foraging performances of solitary bees exposed to a novel insecticide. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 211:111869.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111869

Ferreira EA, Boff S, Verzea S, Mussury, MR (2021). Bioecological and behavioral interaction between pollinating bees and the pioneer shrub Ludwigia nervosa in degraded area. Biology 10(2): 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10020114

2020

Boff S, Friedel A (2020).  Dynamics of nest occupation and homing of solitary bees in painted trap nests. Ecological Entomology 46(2): 496-499. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12965

Boff S, Henrique JM, Friedel A, Raizer J (2020). Disentangling the path of pollinator attraction in temporally colored flowers’ Tropical Insect Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00323-4

Boff S, Raizer J, Lupi D (2020). Environmental display can buffer the effect of pesticides on solitary bees. Insects 11(7): 417. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11070417

Giovanetti M, Giuliani C, Boff S, Fico G, Lupi D (2020). Public perception of nature drives science: native and exotic plants interacting with local pollinators in a botanic garden. Plos One : https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228965

2019

Friedel A, Lattorff HMG, Quezada-Euáan JJ, Boff S (2019). Shared reproduction and sex ratio adjustment to clutch size in a socially polymorphic orchid bee. Ethology 126(1): 88-96. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.12963

Friedel A, Oliveira M, Boff S (2019). Hitchhiking meloid larva upon male Eulaema mocsaryi (Hymenoptera: Apidae): A new host cleptoparasite interaction in the Amazon rainforest. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 54(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/01650521.2019.1585070

Cordeiro GD, Boff S, Alves-dos-Santos I (2019). Trap-nesting bees communities from protected areas of Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil. Sociobiology 66:306-15.  https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v66i2.3448

Sobreiro AI, Peres LLS, Boff S, Henrique JA, Alves JrVV (2019). Continuous micro-environments associated orchid bees benefit from an Atlantic Forest remnant, Paraná State, Brazil. Sociobiology 66: 293-305. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v66i2.3443

Mayack C, Boff S (2019). LD50 values may be misleading predictors of neonicotinoid insecticide toxicity across different bee species. Uludag BeeJournal 19(1): 19-33. https://doi.org/10.31467/uluaricilik.568251

2018  

Boff S, Friedel A, Mussury MR, Lenis PR, Raizer J (2018). Changes in social behavior are induced by pesticide ingestion in a Neotropical stingless bee. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 164: 548-553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.08.061  

Boff S, Melo-de-Pinna GFA, Pott A, Araujo AC (2018). High visitation rate of oil bees may increase pollination efficiency of Couepia uiti in Pantanal wetlands. Apidologie 49: 747- 758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-018-0598-7

Boff S, Friedel A, Miertsch A, Quezada-Euán JJG, Paxton RJ, HMG Lattorff (2018). Ascientific note on validation of housekeeping genes for the primitively eusocial bee Euglossa viridissima (Apidae: Euglossini). Sociobiology 65: 766. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v65i4.3428

Boff S, Alves dos Santos I (2018). Cavities in bromeliad stolons used as nest sites by Euglossa cordata (Hymenoptera, Euglossini). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 62: 33-44. https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.62.22834

2017  

Boff S, Saito CA, Alves dos Santos I (2017). Multiple aggressions among nestmates lead to weak dominance hampering primitively eusocial behaviour in an orchid bee. Sociobiology 64: 202. https://dx.doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1396

2016  

Book chapter

Crivelaro AZ, Lenis PR, Dolacio TA, Boff S. Nesting biology and foraging trips of the solitary wasp Pachodynerus guadulpensis (Saussure, 1853). Uberlândia, EDUFU.

2015  

Boff S, Forfert N, Paxton RJ, Montejo E, Quezada-Euan JJ (2015). A behavioral guard caste in a primitively eusocial orchid bee, Euglossa viridissima, helps defend the nest against resin theft by conspecifics. Insectes Sociaux 62: 247-249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-015-0397-3

2014  

Boff S, Soro A, Paxton RJ, Alves-dos-Santos I (2014). Island isolation reduces genetic diversity but does not elevate diploid male production in a Neotropical bee. Conservation Genetics 15: 1123-1135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0605-0

Boff S, Demarco D, Marchi P, Alves-dos-Santos I (2014). Perfume production in flowers of Angelonia. Apidologie 46: 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0305-2

Giannini TC, Boff S, Cordeiro GD, Cartolano Jr EA, Veiga AK, Imperatriz-Fonseca VL, Saraiva AM (2014). Crop pollinators in Brazil: a review of reported interactions. Apidologie 46: 209-223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0316-z  

Penha RE, Gaglianone MC, Almeida FS, Boff S, Sofia S (2014). Mitochondrial DNA of Euglossa iopoecila (Apidae, Euglossini) reveals two distinct lineages for this orchid bee endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Apidologie 46: 346-358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0329-7

2013  

Boff S, Araujo AC & Pott A (2013). Interactions of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and flowers in forest islets of southern Pantanal wetland. Biota Neotropica 13(4)  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032013000400005

Cordeiro GD, Boff S, Caetano TA, Fernandes PC, Alves-dos-Santos I (2013). Euglossini bees from Atlantic forest of São Paulo, Brazil. Apidologie 44: 254-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-012-0176-3

Santos CF, Boff S (2013). Subtle visits despite guards: Theft from nest of stingless bee (Meliponini) by orchid bee (Euglossini). Entomological Research 40: 233-235. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5967.2010.00288.x

2010  

Boff S, Luz CP, Araujo AC, Pott A (2010). Pollen analysis reveals plants foraged by Africanized honeybees in the Southern Pantanal, Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 40:47-54.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-566X2011000100007

2008  

Boff S, Graciolli G, Boaretto AG, Marques MR (2008). Visiting insects of exudate gums by Terminalia argentea Mart. & Zucc (Combretaceae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52: 477-479. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262008000300025