From Extraction to Meliponiculture: Case Study of the Management of Stingless Bees in Mexico

Researchers in Mexico argue that they must move away from extraction of colonies of stingless bees from the wild, towards more sustainable practices including artificial propagation of colonies.

As in many parts of the world, the boom in interest in stingless bees is motivating some bee keepers to extract colonies from hollow trees. While this is acceptable where trees are being removed for other reasons, the practice poses a threat to natural ecosystems that rely on the bees. Not only are the bees lost but also all the other animals that live in hollow trees, including mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates. The authors of this article make a case for better management of the bees including propagation, to take pressure off the natural bee populations. Read the Mexican perspective here: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/50307

Mexico is blessed with 46 species of stingless bees, here are five managed species: 1) Nannotrigona perilampoides, 2) Melipona fasciata, 3) Frieseomelitta nigra, 4) Plebeia fulvopilosa, 5) Scaptotrigona hellwegeri. (Courtesy Alejandro Reyes-González, et al. (2015)