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Bees

Higher Pollen Diversity in Stingless Bees Revealed through Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at IPB University in Indonesia has shed light on the diversity of floral resources utilized by different species of bees. The study, published in the Hayati Journal of Biosciences, compared the pollen diversity of stingless bees (Geniotrigona thoracica and Heterotrigona itama) and honey bees (Apis cerana) based on pollen in honey. The findings indicate that stingless bees are more generalist than honey bees, highlighting their ecological role in supporting pollination networks in tropical agroecosystems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study compared the pollen diversity of stingless bees (Geniotrigona thoracica and Heterotrigona itama) and honey bees (Apis cerana) based on pollen in honey.
  • Stingless bee honey contained more diverse pollen than A. cerana, with Heterotrigona itama containing pollen from 20 plant families and Geniotrigona thoracica containing pollen from 11 plant families.
  • Each species had a distinct predominant pollen type, with Cocos nucifera (A. cerana), Sapotaceae type (G. thoracica), and Casuarinaceae type (H. itama) being the most abundant.
  • The results indicate that stingless bees are more generalist than honey bees, highlighting their ecological role in supporting pollination networks in tropical agroecosystems.
  • A higher pollen diversity index was observed in H. itama (1.05-1.83) than in G. thoracica (0.34-1.64) and A. cerana (0.66).
  • The study suggests that stingless bees play a crucial role in pollination networks in tropical agroecosystems.

Statistics:

  • 1,200 pollen grains were counted to determine frequency classes.
  • Pollen diversity was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener index (H').
  • Stingless bee honey contained pollen from 20 and 11 plant families for H. itama and G. thoracica, respectively.
  • Honey bees (A. cerana) contained pollen from only the Arecaceae family.
  • The predominant pollen type for each species was Cocos nucifera (A. cerana), Sapotaceae type (G. thoracica), and Casuarinaceae type (H. itama).

Sources:

  • Melissopalynological Analysis Revealed a Higher Pollen Diversity in Stingless Bees than in Honey Bees. Hayati Journal of Biosciences, 2025,33(1).
  • Hayati Journal of Biosciences - http://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/hayati
  • Bogor Agricultural University
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.4308/hjb.33.1.196-203

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