Stingless Bees in Peru by Sophie Kuipers
The stingless bee, also known as the stingless honey bee or meliponines, is a type of bee native to the tropics, specifically in areas such as the Peruvian Amazon. The bees are most known for the honey that they make, which is thin enough to drink, and is also used among many Indigenous Peruvians for its health and medicinal benefits.
Although the stingless honey bee, like many other pollinators in the Amazon, is incredibly important to both the ecosystem and the people who live there, they are at risk of declining as deforestation continues to plague the rainforest. Other factors such as competition with other bees, pesticides, and climate change contribute to the issue as well. This being said, there are people living in the area who are determined and dedicated to helping the stingless bees. For example, take Cèsar Delgado. He is an entomologist with the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute, and wants to help spread the word of keeping and helping the stingless bees, stating that “Beekeeping is a very good way for the forest and communities to adapt to climate change.” People such as him, along with countless other residents and scientists contribute to helping the stingless bees and other pollinators in the Amazon Rainforest.
In addition to their honey being used for medicinal purposes and the bees themselves being crucial to the ecosystem, the stingless honey bees also contribute economically to the areas they inhabit. The stingless bee’s popularity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many Indigenous Peruvian communities used their honey as a medical remedy for upper respiratory illnesses and infections. Due to this, many people would sell the honey they collected, helping many residents in remote areas financially.
Overall, whether looking at the bees from an environmental, economic, or medicinal lens, it is easy to see how important they are to the areas they are native to. Even though there are some threats to the species as climate change and deforestation progress, there are many people dedicated to helping the population
Although the stingless honey bee, like many other pollinators in the Amazon, is incredibly important to both the ecosystem and the people who live there, they are at risk of declining as deforestation continues to plague the rainforest. Other factors such as competition with other bees, pesticides, and climate change contribute to the issue as well. This being said, there are people living in the area who are determined and dedicated to helping the stingless bees. For example, take Cèsar Delgado. He is an entomologist with the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute, and wants to help spread the word of keeping and helping the stingless bees, stating that “Beekeeping is a very good way for the forest and communities to adapt to climate change.” People such as him, along with countless other residents and scientists contribute to helping the stingless bees and other pollinators in the Amazon Rainforest.
In addition to their honey being used for medicinal purposes and the bees themselves being crucial to the ecosystem, the stingless honey bees also contribute economically to the areas they inhabit. The stingless bee’s popularity grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many Indigenous Peruvian communities used their honey as a medical remedy for upper respiratory illnesses and infections. Due to this, many people would sell the honey they collected, helping many residents in remote areas financially.
Overall, whether looking at the bees from an environmental, economic, or medicinal lens, it is easy to see how important they are to the areas they are native to. Even though there are some threats to the species as climate change and deforestation progress, there are many people dedicated to helping the population