Description
The stingless bees are the most diverse group of highly social bees and are key species in our planet’s tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive. In Mexico, the management of stingless bees dates back centuries, and they were an essential part of the culture and cosmogony of native peoples like the Maya. In recent decades a vast amount of information has been gathered on stingless bees worldwide. This book summarizes various aspects of the biology and management of stingless bees, with special emphasis on the Mexican species and the traditions behind their cultivation. Much of the information presented here was produced by the author and the team of researchers at the Universidad Autnoma de Yucatn in the course of three decades of working with these insects. Given the breadth of its coverage, the book offers an equally valuable reference guide for academics, students and beekeepers alike. Dr Jos Javier G. Quezada-Eun is an entomologist with a specialization in bees. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the Universidad Autnoma de Yucatn in 1988 and his postgraduate studies at the University of Wales, Cardiff. He is an acknowledged expert on stingless bees, which he has worked with for nearly thirty years, and has published work on various aspects of the biology, conservation and management of these insects in different scientific journals. Chapter 1 Taxonomy and genetic diversity.- Chapter 2 – Nests and homeostasis.- Chapter 3 – Anatomy and physiology.- Chapter 4 – Caste determination and intra-colony relationships.- Chapter 5 – Organization of activities and communication.- Chapter 6 – Reproduction.- Chapter 7 – Meliponines and pollination.- Chapter 8 – Management and conservation.- Chapter 9 – Meliponiculture in Mexico – past, present and future
