<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This article refers to the biology and ecology of stingless bees (Meliponini), living in tropical and subtropical areas. Similar to honey bees (<italic>Apis mellifera</italic>), 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.</p></abstract>

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.

The role and significance of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Meliponini) in the natural environment

Environmental Protection and Natural Resources

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This article refers to the biology and ecology of stingless bees (Meliponini), living in tropical and subtropical areas. Similar to honey bees (Apis...

The role and significance of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Meliponini) in the natural environment

Published Online: Jun 28, 2019

Page range: 1 - 5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2019-0005

Keywords
Stingless bees, biology, ecology, economic significance

© 2019 Jolanta Bąk-Badowska, Ilona Żeber-Dzikowska, Barbara Gworek, Wanda Kacprzyk, Jarosław Chmielewski, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

The role and significance of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Meliponini) in the natural environment

Published Online: Jun 28, 2019

Page range: 1 - 5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2019-0005

KeywordsStingless bees, biology, ecology, economic significance

© 2019 Jolanta Bąk-Badowska, Ilona Żeber-Dzikowska, Barbara Gworek, Wanda Kacprzyk, Jarosław Chmielewski, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Keywords
Stingless bees, biology, ecology, economic significance