Diversity, local knowledge and use of stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in the municipality of Nocupétaro, Michoacan, Mexico

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Alejandro Casas²  Arturo Argueta⁴  Octavio Reyes-Salas³  Andrés Camou-Guerrero¹  Alejandro Reyes-González² 

[1] Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Unidad Morelia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico;Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas (CIEco), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico;Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico;Centro Regional de Investigaciones Multidisciplinarias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico

关键词: Balsas River Basin;    Ethnoentomology;    Stingless bees;   

Others  :  803445
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-10-47

 received in 2013-12-12, accepted in 2014-05-23,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Stingless bees were significant resources managed by Mesoamerican peoples during pre-Columbian times and remain important in particular areas. Our study aimed at inventorying stingless bees’ species, traditional knowledge and forms of use and management of them at the municipality of Nocupetaro, Michoacán, Mexico, a region of the Balsas River Basin.

Methods

We inventoried the stingless bees of the municipality of Nocupétaro, Michoacán, México, through extensive collecting of bee specimens in different vegetation types. We then conducted semi-structured interviews to local experts in order to document their knowledge and management techniques of stingless bees’ species.

Results

We identified a total of eight stingless bees’ species in the study area as well as three additional unidentified taxa recognized by people through the local names. Our inventory included one new record of species for the region (Lestrimelitta chamelensis Ayala, 1999). The taxa identified are all used by local people. Scaptotrigona hellwegeri Friese, 1900; Melipona fasciata Latreille, 1811; Frieseomelitta nigra Cresson, 1878 and Geotrigona acapulconis Strand, 1919 are particularly valued as food (honey), medicinal (honey and pollen), and material for handcrafts (wax). All species recorded are wild and their products are obtained through gathering. On average, local experts were able to collect 4 nests of stingless bees per year obtaining on average 6 L of honey and 4 Kg of wax but some came to collect up 10–12 hives per year (18 L of honey and 24 Kg of wax).

Conclusions

Local knowledge about use, management and ecological issues on stingless bees is persistent and deep in the study area. Information about this group of bees is progressively scarcer in Mexico and significant effort should be done from ethnobiological and ecological perspectives in order to complement the national inventory of bee resources and traditional knowledge and management of them.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Reyes-González et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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