TOWARDS BIOCULTURAL CONSERVATION OF STINGLESS BEES IN CÓRDOBA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

Based on biological and ethnobiological data from 2020 to 2022, this study provides a base line for the biocultural conservation of stingless bees. These bees in Mexico, like many other pollinators, are facing population declines and this biological loss impacts traditional human knowledge and its uses. This paper aims to record the traditional ecological knowledge about these bees to establish sustainable meliponiculture. Cultural values were obtained through participant observation, interviews, free listing, and structured questionnaires, and a bee inventory was conducted. Data were analyzed using Smith’s Prominence Index and descriptive statistics using SPSS v. 25 software. Inhabitants recognized 21 floral visitors, including invertebrates, mammals and birds. ‘Tenchales’ (local term for Scaptotrigona mexicana), hummingbirds and butterflies are the most culturally prominent floral visitors. The meliponini belonging to Scaptotrigona mexicana were recognized as ‘tenchal’, although different common names were obtained for other meliponini, denoting morphological and behavioral differences among the following species: Partamona bilineata, Plebeia pulchra, Scaptotrigona pectoralis, Scaura argyrea, Trigona corvina, Trigona fulviventris, Trigona fuscipennis and Trigona nigerrima. Although the research area is located near a large city, there is substantial diversity of melliferous flora, floral visitors, and traditional ecological knowledge used by the inhabitants in their daily activities. Stingless bees are perceived as the primary pollinators that help maintain their forests and thus help sustain their lives. This paper promotes better awareness of bioculturally effective community conservation strategies.