Stingless Bees of Mexico : The Biology, Management and Conservation of an Ancient Heritage

"The stingless bees are the most diverse group of highly social bees and are key species in our planet's tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive. In Mexico, the management of stingless bees dates back centuries, and they were an essential part of the culture and cosmogony of native peoples like the Maya. In recent decades a vast amount of information has been gathered on stingless bees worldwide. This book summarizes various aspects of the biology and management of stingless bees, with special emphasis on the Mexican species and the traditions behind their cultivation. Much of the information presented here was produced by the author and the team of researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán in the course of three decades of working with these insects. Given the breadth of its coverage, the book offers an equally valuable reference guide for academics, students and beekeepers alike." -- prové de l'editor La 4e de couverture indique : The stingless bees are the most diverse group of highly social bees and are key species in our planet's tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive. In Mexico, the management of stingless bees dates back centuries, and they were an essential part of the culture and cosmogony of native peoples like the Maya. In recent decades a vast amount of information has been gathered on stingless bees worldwide. This book summarizes various aspects of the biology and management of stingless bees, with special emphasis on the Mexican species and the traditions behind their cultivation. Much of the information presented here was produced by the author and the team of researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán in the course of three decades of working with these insects. Given the breadth of its coverage, the book offers an equally valuable reference guide for academics, students and beekeepers alike The stingless bees are the most diverse group of highly social bees and are key species in our planet's tropical and subtropical regions, where they thrive. In Mexico, the management of stingless bees dates back centuries, and they were an essential part of the culture and cosmogony of native peoples like the Maya. In recent decades a vast amount of information has been gathered on stingless bees worldwide. This book summarizes various aspects of the biology and management of stingless bees, with special emphasis on the Mexican species and the traditions behind their cultivation. Much of the information presented here was produced by the author and the team of researchers at the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatán in the course of three decades of working with these insects. Given the breadth of its coverage, the book offers an equally valuable reference guide for academics, students and beekeepers alike Front Matter ....Pages i-x Taxonomy and Diversity of the Stingless Bees (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 1-40 Nesting Biology (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 41-55 Anatomy and Physiology (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 57-69 Sex Determination and Caste Production (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 71-89 Colony Function and Communication (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 91-129 Reproduction (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 131-165 Services Provided by Stingless Bees (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 167-192 Managing and Preserving Stingless Bees (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 193-242 The Past, Present, and Future of Meliponiculture in Mexico (José Javier G. Quezada-Euán)....Pages 243-269 Back Matter ....Pages 271-294