Traditional knowledge and uses of stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) in Tanzania
Christopher Alphonce Mduda et.al.
Department of Crop Science and Beekeeping Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35134, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Int J Trop Insect Sci (2023)
Research key points:
● Six species of stingless bees are utilized in Tanzania.
- Meliponula ferruginea (Lepeletier 1841)
- Meliponula togoensis (Stadelmann 1895)
- Meliponula beccarii (Gribodo 1879)
- Hypotrigona gribodoi (Magretti 1884)
- Plebeina armata (Magretti 1895)
- Dactylurina schmidti (Stadelmann 1895)
● The most common species, M. ferruginea, is present in all seven geographical zones. In many regions of the nation, stingless bee honey is primarily acquired by destructive honey harvesting techniques.
● Most respondents domesticated stingless bees, and 74.1% of stingless bee hives were found in the Northern zone, where meliponiculture is well established. Stingless bee honey is primarily used as medicine to treat health issues like ulcers, respiratory infections, fire burns, wounds, asthma, broken bones, intestinal worms, and reproductive issues.
● The viability of stingless bee populations and their natural habitats is generally threatened by an overexploitation of stingless bee eggs.
Traditional knowledge about stingless bees can be used to create sustainable management techniques that have a range of advantages for both people and the environment.
● Pollination: Stingless bees are crucial pollinators of a variety of plants, many of which are necessary for the creation of food. These plants can be pollinated and food production can be sustained by using sustainable management techniques that protect and boost stingless bee populations.
● Honey: A vital source of both food and medicine is stingless bee honey. Sustainable management strategies that boost stingless bee honey production can benefit local communities by generating a valuable source of revenue and by enhancing the health of the local populace.
● Biodiversity: Stingless bees play a significant role in many ecosystems’ biodiversity. The richness of these environments can be preserved by employing sustainable management techniques that help to safeguard and boost stingless bee populations.
Sustainable management techniques built on traditional knowledge can not only provide these advantages but also aid in protecting the cultural heritage of the people who possess this information. This is significant because traditional wisdom can offer insightful advice on how to coexist peacefully with nature. Following are some instances of sustainable management techniques that are advantageous to both people and the environment:
● Planting stingless plants that attract bees: Flowers, fruits, and vegetables are among the plants that entice stingless bees. Stingless bee-friendly plants can assist draw these bees and boost their populations by being planted.
● Refraining from using pesticides: Stingless bees can be harmed by pesticides. Pesticides should not be used, since this will help to safeguard these bees and their populations.
● Sustainable honey harvesting: It’s critical to extract honey from stingless bee nests without endangering the bees or their hives. Using gentle approaches and simply removing a small amount of honey from each nest are examples of sustainable harvesting techniques.
We can ensure that stingless bees continue to flourish and to benefit both people and the environment by utilising traditional knowledge to create sustainable management practises.
