meliponine

Meliponine refers to the stingless bees of the tribe Melipini within the family Apidae. Also called stingless bees, they are eusocial insects that, unlike honeybees, lack functional stingers. Meliponines comprise numerous genera and species distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia.

These bees inhabit a variety of nesting sites, including hollow trees, crevices in rocks or termite mounds, underground cavities, and, in some regions, human-made hollows. Nests are built with wax and reinforced with propolis, a resinous substance that helps seal and protect brood and stores. Colonies are typically perennial, with a single queen and many workers; reproduction often involves swarming events that establish new colonies. Foraging diet consists of nectar and pollen, making meliponines important pollinators for many tropical plants and crops.

Behaviorally, meliponines defend their nests but do not deliver the powerful sting associated with honeybees. They communicate and recruit workers through pheromones, tactile cues, and sometimes trail-following behaviors. Colony organization, pheromone signaling, and brood care are adapted to a tropical, resource-fluctuating environment, contributing to varied social structures across species.

Humans have long kept some meliponine species in traditional meliponiculture, particularly in Latin America and parts of Africa and Asia. These bees produce honey that is generally harvested in smaller quantities than honeybees and is valued for its flavor and potential medicinal uses, along with other products such as propolis and beeswax. Habitat loss and pesticide exposure threaten many meliponine species, highlighting the need for conservation and sustainable management.