Meliponula is a genus of stingless bees found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are small, with sizes ranging from 2mm to 8mm depending on the species. They provide honey, which in some species is considered to have medicinal properties.[1][2] These bees are thought to be important pollinators. They are also very common in African countries such as Kakamega forest and Taita hills in Kenya. They are known to commonly nest in trees indigenous to these areas, but occasionally nest in window frames, door panels and roof loggings made of wood. They are particularly threatened by drastic increases in anthropogenic activities in forested areas.
| Meliponula | |
|---|---|
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| Meliponula ferruginea | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Tribe: | Meliponini |
| Genus: | Meliponula Cockerell, 1934 |
| Species | |
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References
edit- ^ Gela, A; Hora, ZA; Kebebe, D; Gebresilassie, A (January 2021). "Physico-chemical characteristics of honey produced by stingless bees (Meliponula beccarii) from West Showa zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia". Heliyon. 7 (1): e05875. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05875. PMC 7814102. PMID 33506124.
- ^ Mduda, Christopher Alphonce; Muruke, Masoud Hadi; Joseph, Charles Olambo; Hussein, Juma Mahmud (May 2024). "Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of stingless bee (Meliponula spp.) honey from the northern highlands of Tanzania, in comparison with Apis mellifera honey". Food and Humanity. 2: 100310. doi:10.1016/j.foohum.2024.100310.