Stingless Bees: New Study
A new study has shown that stingless bees, which produce a high-value honey with a distinct flavour, can increase the yield and quality of crops.
- A stingless bee is a bee that appears very similar to a honeybee, but is incapable of stinging.
- Approximately 550 species of stingless bees are found within several genera that are members of the Meliponini tribe.
- They are also related to bumblebees and carpenter bees.
- Common genera of stingless bees: Austroplebeia, Melipona, and Tetragonula
- They do possess stingers, but they are too small to be useful in defense. Instead of stinging, stingless bees use their mandibles to bite their attackers.
- Stingless bees can be used for pollination without fear of being stung. They are known for their popular medicinal honey and pollination potential, which paves the way for the formulation of crop pollination calendars to benefit all stakeholders.
- Distribution: Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas are the main areas where the stingless bee is found.
- In India, these bees are reported primarily from the northeastern, eastern, and southern Indian States. In the northeast, these bees are reared traditionally in homestead apiaries.
