Stingless bees: uses and management by meliponiculturist women in the Chaco region of Bolivia

Abstract

Background Stingless bees have a great value as main pollinators of wild flowering and cultivated plants, thus playing a fundamental role in the maintenance of biodiversity and food security in Latin America. Despite their importance, stingless bees face numerous threats causing alarming population declines. Moreover, stingless bees have a great cultural and traditional value, since most products from the hive are used for a wide variety of purposes. A growing number of initiatives are encouraging the breeding of these bees, through training courses and modern management techniques. This study documents the knowledge on stingless bees and their products that meliponiculturists from the Chaco region of Bolivia have, as well as the influence that meliponiculture initiatives have on the management and general knowledge of the bees. Methods Local richness and diversity of stingless bees was calculated using Hill numbers. Structured interviews were conducted with 59 meliponiculturists in order to characterize traditional and formal knowledge on stingless bees and meliponiculture. Generalized linear models were applied to assess the influence of training courses on the management of the bees. Also, a relative cultural importance index was calculated for each species. Results Twelve Meliponini species were identified, and 15 local names were reported with morphological, defensiveness behavior, and nest description. There was no significant difference in the knowledge between different ethnical backgrounds or ages. A significant difference was observed in the use of supplementary feeding and assisted division, but none in the success in racking hives or in pest management, regarding the number or courses taken. The relative cultural importance index recorded 30 specific uses for bee products grouped in four categories, from which 29 were attributed (but not exclusively) to Tetragonisca angustula, making it the most versatile species. Conclusions The products of the hive, especially honey, are used for a wide variety of purposes, mostly in medicine. These uses are mostly attributed to just one species, T. angustula, in coincidence with what was taught in meliponiculture training courses by NGOs. The influence of formal knowledge is mostly positive, but it is recommended that other meliponini species are taken into account as well.

Ethno-medicinal uses and cultural importance of stingless bees and their hive products in several ethnic communities of Bhutan

“…Unlike the well-studied apiculture industry in terms of Apis species in the Eastern hemisphere [ 20 ], taxonomy of stingless bees and the practices of meliponiculture are under-studied and poorly documented from several countries of the Indian sub-continent such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bhutan [ 21 , 22 ]. Furthermore, most of the global bee literature is focused on honeybees and bumblebees resulting in a huge knowledge gap on the various aspects of stingless bees [ 23 ]. Stingless bees are only represented by 6% of scientific publication compared to other eusocial bees [ 24 ].…”

“…Local traditional knowledge is a great resource for bee scientists and conservation biologists to uncover alternative conservation practices and to promote the status of the local pollinators [ 8 , 27 ]. Stingless bees exhibit a great cultural importance to many ethnic and tribal populations around the world [ 23 ]. People keep stingless bees and use hive products such as honey, cerumen, propolis, and pollen for a wide variety of regions [ 8 , 23 ].…”

“…Stingless bees exhibit a great cultural importance to many ethnic and tribal populations around the world [ 23 ]. People keep stingless bees and use hive products such as honey, cerumen, propolis, and pollen for a wide variety of regions [ 8 , 23 ]. In Nepal, the Tharu people, for instance, include bee broods in their diet alongside honey and pollen to enhance male fertility, while the Chhetri people serve stingless bees’ honey as a holy drink (locally called as “ panchamrit” ) during birth and death rituals [ 8 ].…”

Chemical Characterization and Biological Activities of Jandaíra Stingless Bee Products (Melipona subnitida, Ducke, 1911): A Brief Review

“…Indigenous peoples used wax to make arrows, brood cells for food and honey to sweeten and ferment drinks. [9] Meliponine honey is a concentrated solution of sugars, with a predominance of fructose and glucose, in addition, a variety of constituents are also found in its composition, such as polyphenols, organic acids, proteins, minerals, aromatic compounds and pollen. [10] This composition may vary according to the origin of the nectar, the entomological species, the edaphoclimatic conditions and the production region.…”

“…These products have also been used by various peoples and cultures. Indigenous peoples used wax to make arrows, brood cells for food and honey to sweeten and ferment drinks [9] …”