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Pot-Pollen in Stingless Bee Melittology pp 229–240Cite as

Nesting Ecology of Stingless Bees in Africa

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Abstract

The exact number of species of stingless bees in Africa is not yet known because of gaps in research, but 24 species in 8 genera are discussed herein. Afrotropical meliponines have fewer species but appear more diverse than Asian fauna, primarily by including larger bees, exposed nesting, or cleptobiotic species. Nests are made in active termite or ant nests, in the ground, and in tree cavities or exposed on woody stems; nest entrances tend to be small and not intensely defended by biting. No diseases have been documented for the stingless bees of Africa, yet predation including invertebrates, birds, and apes likely influenced bee nesting biology and behavior. Since before the Tertiary, when Africa received its stingless bees from Brazilian ancestors, a distinctive meliponine fauna evolved but is now the least species-rich of major tropical regions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Rwebitaba ZARDI), P.O. Box 96, Fort Portal, Uganda

    Robert Kajobe

  2. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Calle Portobelo, Balboa, Republic of Panama

    David W. Roubik

  3. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA

    David W. Roubik

Authors
  1. Robert Kajobe
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  2. David W. Roubik
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Correspondence to Robert Kajobe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioanalysis, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela

    Patricia Vit

  2. Biology Department, School of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

    Silvia R.M. Pedro

  3. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama

    David W. Roubik

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Kajobe, R., Roubik, D.W. (2018). Nesting Ecology of Stingless Bees in Africa. In: Vit, P., Pedro, S., Roubik, D. (eds) Pot-Pollen in Stingless Bee Melittology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61839-5_16

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