Melipona
Encyclopedia
Melipona is a genus
of stingless bee
s. These are widespread in warm areas of the Neotropic
s, 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 pollinator
s of the vanilla
orchid Vanilla planifolia
, 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 woodpecker
s, such as the White Woodpecker
(Melanerpes candidus) which is very fond of M. ruficrus.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of stingless bee
Stingless bee
Stingless bees, sometimes called stingless honey bees or simply meliponines, are a large group of bees, comprising the tribe Meliponini . They belong in the family Apidae, and are closely related to common honey bees, carpenter bees, orchid bees and bumblebees...
s. These are widespread in warm areas of the Neotropic
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
s, from Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
and Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
(México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) to Tucumán
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
and Misiones
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
(Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
). At least 40 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are known.
Several species are kept for honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production, e.g. in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, 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 pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
s of the vanilla
Vanilla (orchid)
Vanilla, the vanilla orchids, form a flowering plant genus of about 110 species in the orchid family . The most widely known member is the Flat-leaved Vanilla , from which commercial vanilla flavoring is derived. It is the only orchid widely used for industrial purposes...
orchid Vanilla planifolia
Vanilla planifolia
Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico, and is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names are Flat-leaved Vanilla, Tahitian Vanilla , and West Indian Vanilla...
, increasing the harvest of this valuable crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
. Due to their small size and stinglessness, they can also be used as pollinators in greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
culture of pepperfruits (Capsicum
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
spp.). Irapuá
Irapuã
Irapuã is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 6,948 and the area is 258.17 km². The elevation is 428 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language....
(M. ruficrus) on the other hand has a reputation to be somewhat of a pest in citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
plantations.
The medical plant Hog plum (Spondias mombin) is also occasionally pollinated by Melipona. Important predators of Melipona include woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
s, such as the White Woodpecker
White Woodpecker
The White Woodpecker, Melanerpes candidus, is a species of woodpecker found in South America. This woodpecker is a native of the grasslands of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina....
(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 – JandaíraJandaíraJandaíra is the easternmost city in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The city is famous because of the Mangue seco village and beach....
- Melipona marginata Lepeletier, 1836 – ManduriManduriManduri is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2006 is 9,006 and the area is 229.48 km². The elevation is 710 m....
, 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 – IrapuáIrapuãIrapuã is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 is 6,948 and the area is 258.17 km². The elevation is 428 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language....
- Melipona rufiventris (Lepeletier) – Tujuba, tuiuva
- Melipona rufiventris paraensis – Uruçu-boca-de-ralo
- Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811 – Uruçu-boi, "uruçu"
- Melipona seminigra
- Melipona seminigra merrillae – JandaíraJandaíraJandaíra is the easternmost city in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The city is famous because of the Mangue seco village and beach....
- Melipona seminigra merrillae – Jandaíra
- Melipona subnitida Ducke
See also
- Warwick Estevam KerrWarwick Estevam KerrWarwick Estevam Kerr is a Brazilian agricultural engineer, geneticist, entomologist, professor and scientific leader, notable for his discoveries in the genetics and sex determination of bees. The Africanized bee in the western hemisphere is directly descended from 26 Tanzanian queen bees Warwick...
- famous Brazilian scientist who did many studies of Melipona. - Trigona - another genus of stingless bees.