Loose Meliponinos (Meliponin) Vulgar known as Sting Bees They are a tribe of apocritos of the Apidae family, also known as melipones in Costa Rica, although they are known as Pegones, Aricas, Guaro, sign (in Panama), Matoa, Matajey (in Venezuela) and Angelitas (in in Colombia).
Son Social bees and Gregarious that form permanent colonies, just like their cousins and cousins European bees. They are spread over the tropical and subtropical regions of the world in Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, below 30 ° from Northern riding degree to the southern latitude of 30 °.
Stylish bees
Although there is a significant amount of toxicological studies How do pesticides influence the common ones (APIS Mellifera))There is very little research into its impact on angello -free bees, known as Meliponinos, who are essential pollinators in Latin -America.
That is one of the conclusions that a bibliographic assessment of Latin -American researchers, published in the magazine Science of the total environmentwho points out that the low information about the meliponines leads to omission when regulating pesticides, what that could be done have significant consequences for biodiversity And food security in the region.
The Meliponinos – who have biological and behavioral differences with common bees – are the largest group of social bees, with more than 600 registered species. They are also the fundamental pollinators Tropical and subtropical areas, and contribute to the reproduction of many species of plants, including economically important crops such as cocoa, coffee and various fruit. These bees also have cultural and economic relevance for indigenous and rural communities, because they offer honey, pollen and propolis for food and health purposes.et.
However, the recent work showed that only 144 articles were published between 2000 and 2024 About the effects of pesticides in the MeliponinoS. of them was 90 percent made in Latin -America and 80 percent specifically in Brazil. The articles only analyzed 43 species of the existing more than 600 and five species represented almost half of the collected data.
Under the pesticides, the authors identified studies on 79 out of 3,400 registered. When compared to the availability of information about the API’s intermediaryThe assessment found 2,054 articles only on the Special impact of insecticides. The amount of scale by adding other connections.
“The Most of these studies (from pesticide effects on bees) They are performed in the US and Europe, where there are no meliponinos, so they give priority to honey bees, “he explained Scidev.net Gherardo Boggo, member of the Latin American Society of Research in Bees (Soathine), and one of the authors of the study.
In addition, “the regulatory authorities worldwide, such as the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Food Security Authority, In their legislation they do not consider the kind of absent bees in the US or Europe“, Diego Vázquez, researcher at the clemente stable biological research Institute (IIBCE) of Uruguay and another author of the study.
That’s one Problem especially for Latin -American countrieswho take the recommendations of these agencies to prepare their laws. “The variability that exists between species in the degree of toxicity of pesticides can mean that we endanger native bees,” said Vázquez.
Inappropriate legislation in Latin -America
“Just like with honey bees, Meliponinos are also confronted The main causes are undoubtedly the use of pesticides“Said Boggo, also a researcher of the council research in agriculture and the analysis of the agricultural economy (CREA) of Italy.
The Recent assessment also analyzed the object of the studies And he noticed that there is an important lack of work focused on chronic exhibition, field tests and subletal effects. “An exhausting risk assessment must include experiments at colony and individual levels, both in adults and in larvae, together with the evaluation of subletal effects,” says Work.
“In fact, a fundamental aspect of Social biology in bees are addicted and angelless bees It is the division of labor determined by his physiological status and external inputs, “he adds, and indicates that this aspect was not considered in the toxicological analysis.
Ciro Insvernizzi, researcher in the ethological part of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Republic of Uruguay, said The importance of this study as “Call of Attention” About the role that other pollinators have in addition to common bees.
In his opinion, during It was believed that bees could replace any pollinatorsBut it is increasingly important to take other pollinators into account, both other social and lonely insects, very few of which are known.
Moreover, he emphasized the fact that The study was usually conducted by Latin -American experts And published in a prestigious magazine shows the contribution that regional science can make. In that sense, he also emphasized the valuable work of Solatina, which brings together more than 250 researchers from 16 countries in Latin -America and other countries in the world.
Under the recommendations that arise from the work, Boggo emphasized the importance of increasing the consciousness and knowledge of the general public, farmers and political organizations that make them understand them The vital role of these pollinators. He also emphasized the need to work on the regulation of pesticides, including meliponines in risk assessment.
“From Solatin we promote multinational scientific cooperation aimed at the Preservation of the immense diversity of Latin -American bees That surrounds us and sometimes we ignore, “concluded Vázquez, who also integrates this network.