Mexican Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Diversity, Distribution, and Indigenous Knowledge

Ayala, Ricardo; González, Víctor H.; Engel, Michael S.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4960-7_9

Cited by 92 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The fact that these patterns are shared with those of other stingless bee species (Ayala et al 2013), and that Melipona species are able to make use of floral resources existing in transformed habitats, may suggest that conservation strategies could be promoted by favoring landscape heterogeneity in the form of agroforestry systems (Hoehn et al 2010) or lowintensity cropland (Schüepp et al 2012). This approach could be combined with the creation of new NPAs such as biosphere reserves for which human interventions are considered part of conservation practices (Guillen-Calvo et al 2009), particularly on the Pacific coast, since there are only a few scattered NPAs (Figure 1l).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Melipona species are eusocial bees exclusive to the Neotropical region, reaching ∼60 species in South America and 16 species in Central America and Mexico (CAM). Several species of the genus have cultural and economic importance, since their honey, pollen and wax are frequently used as medicine and food supplements and in religious practices (Ayala et al 2013). Despite their importance, some Melipona species may be at risk at least in a portion of their distribution areas (Cairns et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distributional analysis of Melipona stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in Central America and Mexico: setting baseline information for their conservation

2016

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-Melipona stingless bee species of Central America and Mexico are important ecologically, culturally, and economically as pollinators and as a source of food and medicine. Despite their importance, however, information on their distribution patterns is limited. We propose potential distribution models for 11 Melipona species in the region. Our main findings support previous data which suggest a revision of the taxonomic status of some species (e.g., M. yucatanica ), and set a baseline on the conservation status of other species, challenging previous reports (e.g., M. beecheii ). Our models show that 20 % or less of the areas of predicted presence are under protection, with large proportions corresponding to low-intensity cropland, offering conservation alternatives in disturbed landscapes. This information will assist further studies on potential conservation strategies, and will aid in analyzing and formulating hypotheses regarding the biogeography of these species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distributional analysis of Melipona stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in Central America and Mexico: setting baseline information for their conservation

2016

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“…Wille (1959Wille ( , 1962) described a species in Early Miocene amber from Mexico, Nogueirapis silacea (Wille), one of only two bee species formally described from the deposits of Chiapas, Mexico (Engel & Michener, 2013;Engel, 2014), but it has subsequently been transferred to Proplebeia Michener (Camargo & Pedro, 2007). However, the identity and relationships of P. silacea require clarification (Ayala et al, 2013;Engel & Michener, 2013;Strelow et al, in prep. ), and indeed much of the fauna of Mexican amber remains to be thoroughly described and their relationships elucidated (Engel, 2004;Solórzano-Kraemer, 2007).…”

Section: Journal Of Melittologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A new stingless bee species of the genus <i>Nogueirapis</i> from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Ayala

Engel

2014

J. Melittol.

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Abstract.A new stingless bee species of the genus Nogueirapis Moure (Apinae: Meliponini) is described and figured. Nogueirapis costaricana Ayala & Engel, new species, is distinguished from its congeners, particularly N. mirandula (Cockerell), a species also known from the Pacific forests of Costa Rica. A key to the species of Nogueirapis, based on the worker caste, is provided.1 Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxi-co (UNAM), Apartado Postal 21, San Patricio, Jalisco, 48980, México (rayala@ib.unam.mx INTRODUCTIONThe stingless bees of Costa Rica represent a relatively well known fauna (e.g., Wille & Michener, 1973;Griswold et al., 1995 Griswold et al., , 2006, in no small part due to the efforts of Alvaro Wille (1928-2006 who was particularly focused on the biology and systematics of Meliponini and spent his career researching the regional fauna, among many other fields of scientific inquiry (Monge-Nájera, 2006;Michener, 2007a). Nonetheless, new species continue to be recovered from this area and highlight how ongoing studies into the melittofauna are needed even in seemingly intensively worked regions such as Costa Rica. It is from the discovery and description of new species that we continually refine our understanding of patterns of variation, relationships, and biogeography, and test long-ignored concepts of species (Grimaldi & Engel, 2007;Engel, 2011;Gonzalez et al., 2013).During recent work in the extensive collections of the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica), the authors discovered specimensNo. 37 of the stingless bee genus Nogueirapis Moure that clearly belonged to a species distinct from those previously known. Nogueirapis may somewhat resemble species of Plebeia Schwarz, but in the former the inner surface of the metatibia has a narrow, bare, shiny, but distinctly not depressed upper margin, whereas this same surface is clearly depressed in the latter. In addition, the corbicula is distinctly larger than that of species of Plebeia, with one or two very large bristles arising from its surface (as in the genus Partamona Schwarz), and the frons and mesoscutum is almost devoid of the relatively long setae so noticeable in Plebeia. Nogueirapis differs from Partamona in the less expansively developed corbicula (large and spoon-shaped in species of Partamona), the presence of abundant yellow markings, the few and mostly curved (not sinuous) large setae of the labial palpi (as is found in various species of Plebeia s.str.), the shining and asetose basal area of the propodeum, and the generally small body size (Wille, 1964(Wille, , 1979. The genus is not diverse, with only three previously described species, and only one of those has hitherto been documented from Costa Rica (Camargo & Pedro, 2007). Wille (1959, 1962) described a species in Early Miocene amber from Mexico, Nogueirapis silacea (Wille), one of only two bee species formally described from the deposits of Chiapas, Mexico (Engel & Michener, 2013;Engel, 201...

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“…However, T. angustula is known for its sophisticated defense system against robber bees of the genus Lestrimelitta Friese, which involves two complementary, morphologically specialized groups of guards (e.g., Grüter et al, 2011;Grüter et al, 2012). Honey, pollen, and wax of T. angustula are highly valued in many regions across Latin America because of their attributed medicinal properties (e.g., Nates-Parra, 2005; Ayala et al, 2013).…”

Section: Journal Of Melittologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Observations on the urban ecology of the Neotropical stingless bee <i>Tetragonisca angustula</i> (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

2013

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Abstract. Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) is a small, docile, cavity-nesting stingless bee that is widely distributed in the Neotropical region. This species is particularly abundant in disturbed environments, including human settlements. Between August 2005 and March 2006, we located and followed during eight months 59 nests of this species in Medellín, the second most populated city in Colombia. Herein, we document their foraging behavior, mortality, and incidence of predators and natural enemies. Also, to determine if higher ambient temperature and light intensity in urban environments affect the daily foraging activity of T. angustula, we compared the daily foraging activity of bees from nests found in open areas in the city and bees from nests from a nearby covered, forested area. Likewise, to determine if urban nests of T. angustula are largely undetected and undisturbed by people, we experimentally made them visible by adding a ring color (white, red, or black) around the nest entrance tube. Our observations indicate that higher ambient temperature and light intensity in urban environments do not significantly affect the daily foraging activity of T. angustula. Nearly half of the marked nests disappeared, thus suggesting that nests of T. angustula are often undetected by people in Medellín. We discuss briefly some features of the biology of T. angustula that might contribute to its success in urban environments.

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Mexican Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Diversity, Distribution, and Indigenous Knowledge

Cited by 92 publications

References 26 publications

Distributional analysis of Melipona stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in Central America and Mexico: setting baseline information for their conservation

Distributional analysis of Melipona stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in Central America and Mexico: setting baseline information for their conservation

A new stingless bee species of the genus <i>Nogueirapis</i> from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Observations on the urban ecology of the Neotropical stingless bee <i>Tetragonisca angustula</i> (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

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