Bees are often recognized for their ability to sting, a defense mechanism many associate with these insects. While many bees can sting, some groups have evolved without this capability, offering a different perspective on bee biology.
Introducing Stingless Bees
Stingless bees, belonging to the tribe Meliponini, are a significant group that do not sting. While they possess a stinger, it is highly reduced and cannot be used for defense. With over 550 described species, they are a diverse group within the bee family Apidae, closely related to honey bees, bumble bees, and orchid bees.
Stingless bees are found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions globally, including parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and tropical America. The Neotropical region alone accounts for 417 species, highlighting their diversity in the Western Hemisphere. These bees vary in size from 2 to 15 millimeters and come in colors like black, brown, yellow, or metallic green.
Unique Adaptations and Behaviors
Since stingless bees cannot use their stingers for defense, they employ various other strategies to protect their colonies. Many species bite intruders, using strong mandibles to inflict painful nips. Some species secrete irritating substances like formic acid that can cause blisters. Others utilize sticky materials, such as resins and wax, to immobilize attackers.
Their social structure includes a queen, workers, and drones, similar to honey bees. Colonies can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of individuals. They construct intricate nests using cerumen, a mixture of plant resin and beeswax. These nests are often built in pre-existing cavities like hollow trees, rock crevices, or even abandoned ant or termite nests. Within these nests, they store honey and pollen in specialized pots, unlike the hexagonal wax combs of honey bees.
Ecological Significance
Stingless bees are important pollinators in their ecosystems. They pollinate native plants and agricultural crops in tropical and subtropical areas, contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health. They have been documented visiting the flowers of approximately 90 crop species.
They also hold economic importance for their honey, often called “bush honey” or “sugarbag honey.” This honey is prized for its distinct flavor, often less sweet and more acidic than honey bee honey, and is valued for perceived medicinal properties. The practice of beekeeping with stingless bees, known as meliponiculture, has been carried out by indigenous communities in regions like Mesoamerica for centuries.