The Melipona Bees – Stingless, but highly Valued

Melipona beecheii is a stingless bee native to Central America and also found in Cuba. Unable to defend itself with a sting, it protects its nest with a small, narrow entrance, which is always guarded by a guardian bee.

Due to the fluidity of their honey, these bees do not build conventional honeycombs, but rather horizontal structures with pots – small containers made of cerumen (a mixture of wax and propolis) – where they store honey and pollen.

They are calm, efficient bees that are essential for the pollination of many wild and agricultural plants. Their protection and responsible breeding are key to biodiversity conservation and sustainable honey production.