James :
 
On Mon, 11 Mar 1996, James Graham wrote:
 
>      When I was reading about Africanized bees, I came across some
> information about the stingless bees in Central America, i.e. MELIPONA
> and TRIGONA.  Perhaps someone would be able and willing to answer a
> few questions for me?
>
>      a)  Do either of these species have potential as honey producers in the
>          United States?  I read that at least one of these species
>          produces only a very small amount of honey.  I was wondering if they
>          could be developed into an alternative for A. melifera, since they
>          couldn't be "Africanized."  Since I live in San Diego, I'm worried
>          about an early end to my new hobby!  Hopefully the neighbors won't
>          burn me out.
 
There are stingless bee species in Mexico, but I'm fairly sure there are
none in any of the southern states.  As Doug Yanega replied about a
month ago, pre-European (and thus pre A. melifera) people of the American
tropics may have taken the honey from some these species.  Even today
people raid there nests for honey, and you can buy honey made from
Meliponinae bees.  The postdoc in our lab came back with some when he was
at a meeting in January.  The stuff was runny and fermented, so I guess
people water it down.  I would imagine they do this because either not
enough honey can be taken from a nest, or the nests are found too
infrequently to get enough (or just poor quality control).
 
>
>      b)  If these bees do have such potential, could they be kept in
>          conventional hives, or would new technology have to be developed
>          for them?
 
I don't think this has been done.  I have heard they are a bitch to
handle.  Dr. Mark Winston once told me that when he his worst experience
with bees was when he was messing around with a stingless bee colony in
French Guiana.  They can't sting, but they can bite, and some species are
so small that they crawl though any cracks in your gear.
 
>      d)  Even if they aren't commercially viable, I think this would be a
>          fun project.  Is it possible to get some of the critters to play
>          around with?
 
I agree, an observation nest would be fun, but I think impossible since
they are not endemic to the U.S.  I wonder if any of the natural history
museums in the states carry displays of uninhabited nests?  They are
quite a sight, and I may be interested in one for a bee exhibit we are
trying to get beefed-up in Vancouver.  Any leads ?
 
****************************************
*** Adony Melathopoulos ****************
***** Center for Pest Management *******
******** Simon Fraser University *******
*********** Burnaby, British Coumbia ***
************** CANADA ******************
****************************************
 
'All bees are looking for bargins in nature's supermarket'
- Bernd Heinrich
 
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