A Scientific Note on a Stingless Bee Hive Model for Ecological and Behavioral Studies and for Environmental Education

Celso Barbieri,Gerson Luiz Pinheiro,Paula Marques Drago,Tiago Maurício Francoy

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v66i1.3401

Abstract

Stingless bees (Apidae; Meliponini) occupy a great diversity of habitats in tropical and subtropical regions. They are eusocial and live in sessile colonies. Most meliponini species build nests in pre-existing cavities, such as tree hollows and stingless bee hive models imitate the conditions of natural nests. However, they are unwieldy for scientific studies, especially those focused on ecological and behavioral characteristics. We developed and tested a hive model that ensures clear visibility of the interior of the hive and facilitates ecological and behavioral studies and for environmental education. It successfully housed ten stingless bee species and one semi-social orchid bee species.

Highlights

Stingless bees are among the most important pollinators in the South American tropics (Duarte et al, 2016). They occupy a wide variety of habitats and are remarkably diverse in hot tropical-subtropical regions
Suitable nesting sites and building resources are crucial and limiting factors for stingless bees occurrence, especially in habitats that have been altered by man (Sakagami, 1982; Roubik, 1989)
The horizontal model, the most traditional, is usually non-modular, without any internal divisions, more elaborate options that have internal divisions to separate the food storage pots from the brood (Nogueira-Neto, 1997; Sommeijer, 1999)

Summary

Introduction

Stingless bees are among the most important pollinators in the South American tropics (Duarte et al, 2016). The horizontal model, the most traditional, is usually non-modular, without any internal divisions, more elaborate options that have internal divisions to separate the food storage pots from the brood (Nogueira-Neto, 1997; Sommeijer, 1999). This kind of model allows one to view the inner part of the hive. The vertical models follow the natural nest organization of most meliponini species Their popularity is growing among stingless bee beekeepers (Venturieri, 2008). The most relevant aspect of this model is its concept; the dimensions vary since each species needs different cavity sizes (Table 1)

Material and Methods

Discussion