Meliponiculture in the Paso del Istmo
I am looking for help with identifying the species of bee that meliponiculturists in this region are currently cultivating.
*Update* By all accounts, it appears to be Melipona beecheii. I uploaded some more close-up photos from a newborn bee we found in an abandoned hive!
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Created by
SarahRudeen
1 participant
1 spotting
Paso Pacífico is a non-profit that works to conserve and protect natural ecosystems along Central America's Pacific slope through community-oriented programs.
I am currently an intern working to develop a meliponiculture project in the Rio Ostayo and Rio La Flor watersheds. It appears that most current meliponiculturists (we're working with 26 so far) are keeping the same species of bee, however we have yet to confirm its identity.
The ultimate goal of our work is to develop meliponiculture in this region to better socio-economic circumstances (generate income from honey and involve women in production), encourage forest protection, and preserve a cultural tradition.
