Partamona

Partamona is a genus of stingless bees in the tribe Melipini, within the family Apidae. Members are eusocial insects that live in perennial colonies headed by a queen, with workers and drones. They collect nectar and pollen, produce honey, and build wax brood combs and storage pots inside the nest.

Distribution and habitat

Partamona species are primarily Neotropical, with the greatest diversity in Brazil. Their range extends across parts of northern South America and into parts of Central America. They typically nest in hollow trees, abandoned cavities, or crevices in walls and rocks, sometimes adapting to human-made cavities. As with other stingless bees, colonies can be preferred pollinators of a variety of tropical flowering plants.

Ecology and behavior

Colonies vary in size but are generally smaller than those of honey bees. Unlike many stinging bees, Partamona lacks a functional sting for defense; instead, colony defense relies on social aggression and territorial marking. Foraging and nesting activities are driven by pheromonal cues and collective decision making. They contribute to pollination of many native plants and, in some regions, are involved in meliponiculture, the practice of keeping stingless bees for honey and propolis production.

Taxonomy and significance

Partamona is one of several genera within Meliponini. The genus comprises numerous species, including Partamona bilineata, among others, which differ in morphology and geographic distribution. Conservation concerns for Partamona mirror those of many stingless bees, with habitat loss and fragmentation potentially reducing colony viability and pollination services. The genus is of interest to researchers studying Neotropical bee diversity, evolution, and the ecology of tropical pollination networks.