West Sumatran Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini): What can be told from its Local Distribution

Abstract

Research on stingless bee at several Meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) sites in West Sumatra, including at Universitas Andalas Campus Complex, had been conducted from April to December 2019 by using direct survey and direct collection methods on stingless bee worker at their colony entrances. A total of 18 stingless bee species that belong to five genera were collected. Tetragonula was the genus with the highest in species number (8), followed by Homotrigona (5) and Lepidoptrigona (3). Meanwhile, Heterotrigona and Geniotrigona were only represented by a single species each despite their popularity among West Sumatra beekeepers. Universitas Andalas Campus Complex harbours the highest species number of stingless bee (10), followed by stingless beekeeping site in Lubuk Minturun (7). Only 2-4 stingless bee species bred elsewhere stingless beekeeping sites. We presume that the difference of species number recorded in various stingless beekeeping sites indicated the complexity of this bee species within the variety of habitats.

Foraging Activity of Tetragonula laeviceps Workers for Natural Resources and Nest Materials at a Polyculture Cropland in Batusangkar, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra

“…This finding was quite different to the previous study from Bogor, West Java, which observed the peak of nest cleaning activity peaked between midday to 1 pm [8]. Stingless bee workers that perform nest cleaning can be recognized through waste material that held at its lower jaw, flight to a short distance (1-2 meters from the nest) before dumped the waste and returned to the nest [2].…”

“…In West Sumatra of Indonesia, the stingless beekeeping has been developed in many parts of this province. The beekeepers usually intensify flowering vegetation around their farm in order to increase the production of honey and propolis [2]. Naturally, stingless bees build their nests where the surrounding resources are supportive in providing food and nesting materials.…”

Assessing the Environmental Friendliness of Universitas Andalas for Stingless Bees Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

“…This study identified 10 stingless bee species from within UACC; five stingless bee species were thought to be unique as they, as far as the database could tell, were not reported from any locality outside of UACC (Table 1). These five stingless bee species not recorded to be species that reared by 16 stingless beekeeping farms in West Sumatra that were surveyed in 2019 [8]. These unique species were Homotrigona (Tetrigona) apicalis (Smith, 1857) (Figure 2a Each stingless bee species has uniqueness in morphological, behavioral and other aspects.…”

“…This field station was in neighborhood with BERF. Altogether, these four species showed potential to be domesticated, as they were frequently observed inhibiting beekeeping farms in West Sumatra [8]. A total of 66 flowering plant species were recorded as potential food sources for stingless bees; they belong to 32 families.…”

Diversity of Insects Associated with Stingless Bee Lepidotrigona terminata at Plantations in Batu Gadang Village, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra

“…Woody plants, such as trees or pines, provide nesting place through natural holes formed in it or through the help of termites or other cellulose-digesting organisms. In West Sumatra, stingless bee L. terminata was recorded from Pariaman Regency [3,4]. Among other member of genus Lepidotrigona, the stingless bee L. terminata is bred by the meliponiculture practitioner in this area, where their colonies usually placed under the tree canopy or even using the shade created by the crop plants in the plantation area [5].…”