Stingless Bees Guard Tasty Honey With Barricades, Bouncers and Bites | Deep Look
More than 600 bee species across Mexico, Central and South America and tropical regions worldwide make honey, but don’t have stingers to protect it. So, how do they keep thieves away? And what does their honey taste like?
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DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED in San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
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Stingless bees build their nests mainly in the hollows of living trees, anywhere from rainforests to cities.
Deep Look filmed four species kept by stingless beekeeper Emilio Pérez in the state of Oaxaca, in southwestern Mexico. He keeps Melipona beecheii, Scaptotrigona pectoralis, Scaptotrigona mexicana and Nannotrigona perilampoides to sell their honey.
Stingless bees have evolved different ways to protect their honey and larvae from mammals and insects that want to eat them.
Every night, tiny black bees with green eyes called Nannotrigona perilampoides cover the entrance to their nest with a barrier built out of cerumen, a material that stingless bees make by mixing wax with resins they collect from trees and other plants. The smell and stickiness of the resins keep ants away.
Stingless bees also post guard bees at their nest entrance.
And when defensive strategies don’t work, they tangle in their enemies’ hair, bite them with their mandibles and sometimes even coat them with resin.
--- What is the difference between a honeybee and a stingless bee?
Honeybee is the common name for a dozen or so species in the genus Apis. Apis mellifera, the Western or European honeybee, and Apis cerana, the Eastern or Asian honeybee, are kept worldwide because they’re very productive. Their workers, all female, use stingers to protect their hives.
Stingless bees, also known as meliponines, produce smaller amounts of honey than honeybees, though some species are very productive.
Both honeybees and stingless bees live in colonies with worker bees and queens.
--- Does the honey of stingless bees have beneficial health properties?
In Latin America and Asia, stingless bee honey is sold as a health product to treat ailments like sore throats.
Honeys from both stingless bees and honeybees have hydrogen peroxide, which is antimicrobial.
Since stingless bees collect resins, pollen and nectar from a host of plants - many in the rainforest - scientists are studying their honey for chemicals that might have medicinal properties.
“There are really interesting chemicals in there. Some of them have known properties and it’s usually antifungal, antibacterial, even antiviral and anti-inflammatory, said entomologist David Roubik, who studied these bees at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. “If all those things apply to every kind of stingless bee, I seriously doubt it. It does depend on what kind of flowers they’ve been visiting and what kind of resin they collect.”
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Пікірлер: 463
Stingless bees actually sounds pretty chill to have around
@shardinalwind7696
2 ай бұрын
Watch out, they bite
@shardinalwind7696
2 ай бұрын
@Iambot233How many times have we seen this trick…
@Timmycoo
2 ай бұрын
All bees are generally pretty chill to have around. It's the wasps that are the a-holes.
@aihsdiaushfiuhidnva
2 ай бұрын
@Iambot233 only 4k? you can do better than that my friend
@miguelangelvizuetmata555
2 ай бұрын
Mostly chill. Just avoid Oxytrigona hives.
That "yum" caught me off guard lol. Fascinating little builders these bees, material science via natural selection, mindboggling
@helldronez
2 ай бұрын
😂
@masonhunter2748
2 ай бұрын
what the yum
@LazyTallGuy
2 ай бұрын
Same here! I had to re-listen haha
@ChuanChihChou
2 ай бұрын
Narrator slipped into her real voice🤣
@Mycelium
2 ай бұрын
uwu
"Do they sting?" "Worse, they annoy" 😂
@HeyYouSA
2 ай бұрын
They pester you to the brink of insanity. Only the strong-willed can keep these bees.
@BlitzAce-pj9jr
Ай бұрын
I hate these little pests following me around for Ear Wax and sweat
@fricod4396
Ай бұрын
They will fly around you like tiny inlaws / helicopter parents and will criticize everything you do! "Bzzz, you're wearing that in public?", "Bzzzwhy are you playing that video game when you could be filing your income tax on time for once!", *tiny bite* "I see, you have money for a new shirt. Meanwhile your cutting board is a health hazard of Chernobylian proportions..." - You'd do anything to get them to leave you alone! I guess that's where the expression "buzz off" really came from ;)
@nikayra9564
13 күн бұрын
@@fricod4396😢😂😂😂😂😂
Bees are incredible, and native bees deserve so much more recognition. Thank you for this cute episode.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Our pleasure!
@LunaMosorie
2 ай бұрын
@@KQEDDeepLook can a sanddigger bee (sdb) and a stingless bee make a new spechies ? im just wondering, btw, AUSOME VIDIEOS. (im only 13, and i learn alot from u)
@cliprimate_EXtinted
Ай бұрын
Yeahsbsjs Sss Xx Sss S Sssss S S
I mean, their life seems better than honey bees who sting once and then die painfully for absolutely no reason at all
@fernald2201
2 ай бұрын
And wayyy better than wasp which will endlessly bite and sting until their threat/prey neutralize
@brokenmirror3911
2 ай бұрын
iirc isn't the stinging bees dying painfully on sting because their stingers are barbed and get stuck in some creatures but not all?
@victory8928
2 ай бұрын
@@brokenmirror3911yes they do this to release pheromones and keep stinging the target so that more will sting it
@gwagner1380
2 ай бұрын
@@fernald2201 until you get close to a hive of Oxytrigona and you find out that they spit acid
@BugTypeTrainer
2 ай бұрын
There are actually a few reasons. One of which is the removal of a stinger ensures that the target will receive a full dose of venom, another reason is the release of the death pheromone, which is a signal that spreads to her sisters quite fast, allowing for a ‘swarm’ of protective sisters. Also unlike what deeplook said, stingless bees DO have stingers, theyre just unable to sting people
Bee is good Bee is love Bee is life
Nature is cool when a bee doesn't have a stinger, they find ways to survive!
@RedSelf
21 күн бұрын
Although the need for a 🐝 to have a stinger, comes more from humans than from bees themselves 😅 Because we met them, in the renewed way
3:05 flyin around with them pockets full❤ soo cute
Just when I think bees can't get any cooler this species have bouncers at the nest like it's a nightclub.
I cannot tell how much I LOVE BEES, every bee is such a cool animal
Honey bees: a hexagon is the most efficient shape Stingless bees: hold my honey
@DavidCruickshank
2 ай бұрын
Nobody tell CGPGrey😅
@sirembrum49thegreatmoth2
2 ай бұрын
@@DavidCruickshank I guess Hexagon isn't always the Bestagon 😂
@andrewr681
2 ай бұрын
erm. ok
@FLPhotoCatcher
2 ай бұрын
A hexagon *is the most efficient shape.* That's partly why the stingless bees only produce 1/7th as much honey.
@Splarkszter
Ай бұрын
@@FLPhotoCatcher Actually It's the triangle.
4:09 Yum! Lol that was surprising
@giulianodenardi7654
2 ай бұрын
She's out off line but she's right
I'm currently trying to restore the stingless bee population at he farm i grew in southern brazil. They disappeared in the last 15 years with the increase in the use of agrotoxics and expansion of monocultures. Bit by bit, they are coming back. One colony of Jataí (_Tetragonisca angustula_) even built their new nest inside the wooden walls of the house after trying to on in a cabinet INSIDE THE HOUSE, despite my attempts to lure them to a wooden box. Gotta love those little creatures
@Elimarzordan
2 ай бұрын
Uns anos atrás eu costumava ter a espécie de Jataí no norte do Espírito santo. Através de cuidados, consegui várias colmeias bem resistentes.
@thiagopamponetcaldassantan3411
2 ай бұрын
Vale a pena tentar o método dos ninhos armadilha ou armadilha pet para as abelhas sem ferrão, principalmente para as Jataí, dificilmente as abelhas sem ferrão entram em caixas de madeira, vale a pena pesquisar sobre isso aqui mesmo no you tube eu aprendi bastante sobre capturar e cuidar de abelhas por aqui, principalmente os canais Vida das abelhas e Abelhando mundo afora. E tenta pesquisar de flora para jantaí, plantar flores que elas gostem de visitar pode facilitar elas de se desenvolverem
@MarinaMorena13
2 ай бұрын
eu tava querendo saber como eu podia ajudar as jatais e outras tmb, plantar mais flores nativas aqui em casa, faz muito tempo que não as vejo, e eu moro do lado da reserva flroestal
An episode not located in California? Impossible Seriously though, thank you for showcasing native peoples and the relationship they have with their environments. Stingless bee keeping in the Americas by natives is not talked about nearly enough.
Love their chubby pollen/resin pants!
I like the “YUM”
Their lil' carrier bags on their back legs are so cute!
The photography on this episode was *chef's kiss* Keep up the great work Deep Look!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Josh Cassidy is responsible for our cinematography!
3:05 I am a mature adult, I am a mature adult, I am a mature adult! The balls of this Bee, it's literally weighing him down 🤣
@silviavalentine3812
2 ай бұрын
😂
Bees are some of my favorite insects. This was super cool to watch.
This is why i love DEEP LOOK.
With all that resin, honey, and wax, those hives must smell absolutely fantastic
I visited a mountain village in Costa Rica and one of the villagers showed me their stingless bee colony! The colony's hive had an almost alien like structure but I think I prefer it over the boring honeycombs of the honeybee!
Their eyes are so cute!! Everything about these bees is cool!
this gotta be one of the coolest videos i’ve stumbled across ever
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Wow thanks!
I love seeing those wee bags of pollen on bee legs. I loved hearing how they do the same with resin. :D
4:09 "YUM!" I was not expecting that LOL
That 1 stingless bee guarding the entrance: "IN THE MIGHTY EYES OF THE LORD I WILL HOLD MY POST"
No mention of the "glorp attack" some use where they regurgitate resin onto ants, gluing them to whatever they're on? That's one of the coolest things about these lil guys.
5:35 "Wait for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee". "Hold The Dooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" :v
That's a Honey Bar!!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Belly up!
@DemandingRiches
Ай бұрын
Can i take this if I’m allergic to bees ?
Qué rico su miel! Reactions by staff is a telltale story with distinct flavor, right? A sight inside of the structure is very beautiful & impressive! Artistic! Professional work superior to that of potter wasps. Intriguing facts: geometric beauty by excellent technique & a range of materials. Majestic potter bee to be coined! Me encanta El video!
Even the bugs dont want the bugs inside
Oh I’m so endeared by them, especially that bouncer ❤
another amazing video, thanks!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
That resin is a crucial component not only for the bees, but also for a critically endangered art from the region called Popotillo. You use the beeswax to stick naturally dyed straw (also endemic to the region, Sporobolus wrightii) to something like paper or wood, and the resin in the wax is a critical component in keeping the wax pliable. For over a decade now I've been researching and mastering the art to try and preserve it, because there hasn't ever been a book written about it, and even I struggled to learn about just how essential these bees and their resin-spiked wax was. The common honeybee doesn't collect resin, so naturally I've been struggling to make do with common beeswax. Thank you so much for highlighting this aspect of these bees, I'll be making reference to your video in my free classes going forward.
My goodness, they are so adorable! I never knew that there are various other bees than honeybees!
I have a colony of these small stingless bee in my backyard! They made a nest inside our big bamboo chair! They've been there for years
Whoa, watching stingless bee i suddenly remember there was a colony of Trigona nested in my childhood house. They stayed there about 18 years before i moved out! I remember picked them to played with when in kindergarten, and also picked them as a speciment when in college. Hahahaha, i wonder where they are now
4:11 was that "yum" your voice? That sounded so adorable!!!🥰
Real quick- stingless bees do have stingers. Theyre just too small to use on people!
I clicked so fast when I saw a new upload
@2014moon
2 ай бұрын
Me too I love this channel even tho I don’t fool with insects learning about them is amazing ❤
That “yum” was personal
My favorite episode thus far. Im wowed by their capability to take the resin and just move it to their back legs. So cool!
@timothyg1986
29 күн бұрын
That was so cute.
Oh my so Good !😃
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Thanks! Bees are some of our favorite creatures to film & produce episodes about.
4:10 the "yum!" got me 😂
@ivanruiz2218
2 ай бұрын
hahaha i loved it
Larga vida a las Abejas meliponas!!
Like Bees of all species, Deep Look provides a vital service to the world. Like honey, your videos are good and sweet. We ❤YOU!
Fascinating stuff! Another great episode 🤩
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
They're really lovely, sometimes they appear in my house and once they even did stayed here. In Brazil we call them Jataí bees. I've also seen some Euglossa where I live, they are reeealy pretty ❤
I could watch bees collecting pollen and resin all day. 😍
Viva las abejas meliponas de Mexico!
Thanks Deep Look for such beautiful and full of information Videos ❤
"YUM!~"
Incredibly high quality work as always! Thank you so much for making this amazing content. I like that this video is a little longer.
waiter, waiter! more deep look, please! :D
Their pollen and resin trousers are so adorable ❤
"AntsCanada (Mikey Bustos)" had them in his farmhouse.
I learned so much from this video. I had no idea there were stingless bees.
wow fascinating! this is the first i’ve heard of stingless bees
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Thanks! And to think there are hundreds of species of them.
I've heard there's not much study of these bees. It's good to see that at last something big gives them the oportunity to show off who they are🧡
They are so cute. Bees are super adorable.
I watch your videos when im bored. This kills the boredom fast. Keep up the great work!
Dear Deep Look Team, Absolutely astonishing work (as always), please never stop!
Honey pots. They have honey pots. Pots. The most adorable thing. My day has been made knowing that there are stingless bees have pots of honey.
I might not be a big fan of any sort of bees, but i won't lie when i say i admire their work ethics and micro sized monarchy
Those back-leg "pockets" are absolutely adorable.
Beautiful video as usual, absolutely love nature.
beautiful creatures :)
Goodness i love bees. They're wonderful creatures
"Sisters, shield formation!"
i love this so much! they're like ceramists architects all at the same time
this channel doesn't miss !
they're beautiful
DEEPLOOK never disapoint us
The best office is a good bee-fence! that's all, i'll go buzz off!
Adorables!
Thank you everybody for this channel !Please more native beee and pollinators videos ❤ as well as new introductions to new creatures ❤❤
Incredible photography
Very cool! I would love to try their honey
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
It is really different - very rich and tangy, does taste both delicious and medicinal.
Probably the coolest bees out there. Look at their home design though. Smart
I love bees so much! I think it would be cool to hang out with these ones!❤😂
these little tireless fellas are really worth saving 👍
THEY'RE SO CUTE!!!!
Maravilloso video! Como siempre
Ooooh I know these guys, I’ve seen a super persistent colony in my grandparent’s house (it’s been there since I was a child, now I’m 19) and they’re super fun to see what they do on the daily
Omg I never knew how they put the resin on their hind legs. So cute!!
they're so cute!!!
Stingless bees are so cool. This is my favorite episode now
"BEE-FENCE BEE-FENCE BEE-FENCE!!!"
When I was younger these bees lived near our house. When my cousins and I would decide to eat popsicles, they would start licking the popsicle while we still had them in our possession. It was funny for us to try and eat it faster before more of those bees would get on it until we had to let them go on the floor. I would put my popsicle on a rock and watch.
Thats awesome. Thanks for bring us this. Im highly alergic to bees so its nice to see honey bee's that cant sting. Id still be very nervous around them.
I absolutely love this program! I love learning new things and this is right up my alley! Thank you!
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
You are so welcome!
What an amazing video! This is a great look into native bees. Keep up the great vids
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Thanks a bunch!
I love this channel, it really does do a deep look into some extraordinary stuff.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Thank you Steven!
My friend has a stingless bee colony in his garage. Things are about the size of fruit flies, and their main defence seems to be getting honey in intruders' hair.
Very cool! Amazing shots as always and thank you for the video.
@bmo14lax
2 ай бұрын
And thank you patreon supporters.
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
They call these stingless bees 'kelulut' here, and recently farmers have developed a vacuum-based device to suck out and harvest the honey without impacting the hive too much in the process. Compared to using knives to stab and cut the balls, which disturbs the hive enough that the bees had to spend extra effort rebuilding the nest, the honey vacuum uses a needle to prick each bulb and suck out the content, leaving the rest of the nest virtually untouched.
Fascinating, i love all you episodes but i especially appreciate that they can be found around the south west coast of north America i live in socal and have gain such a new insight and love for all the amazing critters around me, always amazed with what i learn in a few mins from your vids, some even about animals i thought i knew well!❤😊
@KQEDDeepLook
2 ай бұрын
Excellent!
I thought it was funny when the narrator, describing the stingless bees, informs us how they bite and how they'll call in the gang for more biting.