Bees are widely known for their ability to sting, a defense mechanism that instills caution in many. However, this common perception does not apply to every bee species. Among them is the existence of bees that do not possess an effective sting, challenging preconceived notions about these important pollinators and highlighting the diversity within bee populations.
Bees That Don’t Sting
Yes, there are indeed bees that do not sting. The most prominent group belongs to the tribe Meliponini, commonly referred to as stingless bees. These bees, comprising over 600 described species, are closely related to familiar honey bees, bumblebees, and orchid bees, all within the Apidae family. While stingless bees possess a stinger, it is highly reduced and too small for defense against larger creatures.
Stingless bees are found predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, including the African continent, Southeast Asia, Australia, and tropical America. These environments provide the necessary conditions for their survival and reproduction, allowing them to remain active year-round.
Understanding True Stingless Bees
The Meliponini tribe, or true stingless bees, exhibit complex social structures similar to honey bees, including distinct queen and worker castes within perennial colonies. Worker bees undertake tasks for the colony, such as defense, cleaning, and foraging for food and building materials. Physically, these bees often have muted colors, typically black, with some species displaying yellow, brown, or red markings. They possess fine hairs that aid in pollen collection, and workers are equipped with specialized pollen baskets, called corbiculae, on their hind legs.
Stingless bees employ a variety of defensive behaviors to protect their colonies. Their primary defense involves biting with strong mandibles, which can inflict a painful pinch on attackers. Some species, such as those in the genus Oxytrigona, can secrete irritants like formic acid, causing blistering and discomfort. Collective defense strategies include swarming and harassing intruders, often accompanied by the release of alarm pheromones to rally more defenders.
Some species of stingless bees have specialized “soldier” castes, larger individuals dedicated to guarding the nest entrance. These guards actively engage with threats, and in some Trigona species, workers may engage in suicidal biting, where they latch onto an intruder with their mandibles, sometimes losing their wings. Stingless bees also construct their nests in protected locations, such as tree cavities, rock crevices, or underground, often featuring narrow entrance tubes that are easier to defend. They use a building material called cerumen, a mixture of wax and plant resin, which provides structural integrity and antimicrobial properties for their nests. Some species also use sticky resin to trap or immobilize enemies.
Stingless bees are important pollinators in their native tropical ecosystems, contributing to the reproduction of many plant species, including those important for human food production. Beyond pollination, these bees produce honey that is prized in many cultures, particularly in South America and among the Mayan peoples who have practiced meliponiculture for centuries. This honey is typically less sweet and less viscous than honey bee honey, with a higher water content, often requiring refrigeration.
Insects Often Mistaken for Non-Stinging Bees
Many insects mimic bees, leading to common confusion, especially concerning those that do not sting. This phenomenon, known as Batesian mimicry, involves a harmless species resembling a harmful one, thereby deterring predators that have learned to avoid the dangerous model. Common bee mimics include hoverflies (family Syrphidae) and bee flies (family Bombyliidae), both of which are harmless to humans.
Distinguishing these mimics from bees involves observing several physical characteristics. Bees possess two pairs of wings, totaling four, while hoverflies and bee flies, like all true flies, have only one pair of wings. Another noticeable difference lies in their antennae: bees typically have longer, often elbowed antennae, whereas flies generally have short, stubby, or hair-thin antennae.
The eyes also provide a clear distinction; bees have oval-shaped eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, while flies usually have large, prominent compound eyes that cover most of their head, sometimes meeting in the middle. Body shape is another indicator: bees typically have a distinct, narrow waist, whereas flies lack this constriction, with their thorax and abdomen appearing more closely joined. While both bees and many mimics can be hairy, bees often have branched hairs specifically adapted for collecting pollen, a feature generally absent in flies. Hoverflies are known for their ability to hover in mid-air, a flight pattern less common among bees.