Open AccessThe role and significance of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Meliponini) in the natural environment
Author(s) -
Jolanta Bąk-Badowska,
Ilona Żeber–Dzikowska,
Barbara Gworek,
W. Kacprzyk,
Jarosław Chmielewski
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ochrona środowiska i zasobów naturalnych
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.171
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2353-8589
pISSN - 1230-7831
DOI - 10.2478/oszn-2019-0005
Subject(s) - pollinator , ecology , nest (protein structural motif) , stingless bee , biology , hymenoptera , apidae , pollination , biodiversity , zoology , pollen , biochemistry
This article refers to the biology and ecology of stingless bees (Meliponini), living in tropical and subtropical areas. Similar to honey bees ( Apis mellifera ), stingless bees (Meliponini) belong to the category of proper social insects and are at the highest level of social development. This group of insects comprises about 500 species and they are the most common bees pollinating the native plants in many tropical areas. Families of stingless bees are usually quite numerous, reaching up to 100,000 individuals. They are characterised by polymorphism, age polyethism and perennialism. This article presents the structural complexity of natural nesting of these tropical insects and their ability to settle in artificial nest traps. The main significance of stingless bees for humans is their role in the natural environment as pollinators, which is an essential factor influencing biodiversity.