Melipona

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Melipona
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Subfamily: Apinae
Tribe: Meliponini
Genus: Melipona
Illiger, 1806
Species

Some 40, see text

Melipona is a genus of stingless bees. These are widespread in warm areas of the Neotropics, from Sinaloa and Tamaulipas (México) to Tucumán and Misiones (Argentina). At least 40 species are known.

Several species are kept for honey production, e.g. in Brazil, where some are well-known enough to have common names. Melipona honey has long been used by humans and nowadays is of minor commercial importance. There is ongoing research in improved beekeeping techniques.

In addition, Mexican Melipona are known to be good pollinators of the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia),[citation needed] increasing the harvest of this valuable crop. Due to their small size and stinglessness, they can also be used as pollinators in greenhouse culture of pepperfruits (Capsicum spp.). Irapuá (M. ruficrus) on the other hand has a reputation to be somewhat of a pest in citrus plantations.

The medical plant Hog plum (Spondias mombin) is also occasionally pollinated by Melipona. Important predators of Melipona include woodpeckers, such as the White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus) which is very fond of M. ruficrus.

Selected taxa

  • Melipona beecheii Bennet
  • Melipona bicolor (Lepeletier, 1836) – Guarupu, guaraipo
  • Melipona compressipes – Tiúba
    • Melipona compressipes manaosensis – Jupará
  • Melipona fasciata Latreille
  • Melipona fuscipes Friese, 1900 (Latreille, 1811) –
  • Melipona fuliginosa (Latreille, 1811) – Manduri-preto
  • Melipona interrupta – Jandaíra
  • Melipona marginata Lepeletier, 1836 – Manduri, manduri menor, mandurim, minduri, gurupu-do-miúdo, taipeira
  • Melipona mimetica
  • Melipona quadrifasciata (Lepeletier) – Mandaçaia, amanaçaia, manaçaia, "uruçu"
    • Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides
  • Melipona quinquefasciata (Lepeletier) – Mandaçaia-da-terra, mandaçaia-do-chão, uruçu-do-chão
  • Melipona ruficrus – Irapuá
  • Melipona rufiventris (Lepeletier) – Uruçu-amarela, tuiuva, tujuba, bugia
    • Melipona rufiventris paraensis – Uruçu-boca-de-ralo
  • Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811 – Uruçu-nordestina, "uruçu"
  • Melipona seminigra
  • Melipona subnitida Ducke

See also

  • Warwick Estevam Kerr - famous Brazilian scientist who did many studies of Melipona.
  • Trigona - another genus of stingless bees.

References

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