Hi to all on BEE-L Wow!, Pb wrote about stingless bees in the Yucatan for proof of what was here, prior to for our various honeybee types of today. Wouldn't Abbe D. Francesco Saverio Clavigero be thrilled!!!!! He wrote there are at least six different kinds of bees in our new world way back in the mid 1700s. 1. The 1st is the same as the common bee of Europe, with which it agres, not only in size, shape and color, but also in its disposition and manners, and in the qualities of its honey and wax. 2. The 2nd which differs from the 1st only in having no sting is the bee of Yucatan and Chiapa. 3. The 3rd species resembles in its form, the winged ants, but is smaller than the common bee, and without a sting. (Note - two stingless bees now. - Dee here). 4. The 4th species is a yellow bee, smaller than the common one, but like it, furnished with a sting. 5. The 5th is a small bee furnished with a sting, which constructs hives of an orbicular form, in subterranean cavities, and the honey is sour and somewhat bitter. 6. The 6th is the Tlalpiprolli, which is a black and yellow bee, of the size of the common bee, but has no sting (wow- 3 stingless bees - Dee here) Now a wasp called a Xicotli or Xicote, is a thick black wasp, with a yellow belly, which makes a very sweet honey, in holes made by it in walls., but though written about was listed seperate. So I guess he listed 6 bees and 1 wasp he saw. Now, if just the one stingless was in the Yucatan which is on the Mexican pennisula and not of the main continent of S. America or the main continent of N. America, how come we all just think stingless bees were here first????? and with the Mayans!!!! Peter, are you sure about just stingless bees? What about the Incas, the Aztecs, the mound people in the Southern USA back east and HOpi, Navajo, etc tribes of the Southwest, and tribes from up north???? or even the Western Coast of the N. America (wasn't there a land bridge supposed to be there? and of course all came across it, even the insects, with the exception of bees - for only stingless crossed, or where there others? Maybe a land mass plate shift between the Americas and/or Europe/Africa and only stingless where on our side.) Just what are the bees of the Americas???? Regards, Dee A. Lusby __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions! http://auctions.yahoo.com