THE ROLE OF STINGLESS BEES IN CROP POLLINATION

Pollination is a critical link in the functioning of ecosystems, and it improves the yield of crops. Insect pollination is an essential input in the production of crops grown worldwide. Of the approximately 300 commercial crops about 84% are insect pollinated. Honeybees are responsible for 70-80% of insect pollination. This indicated how much honeybees are the most efficient insect pollinators of cultivated crops and wild flora in agricultural systems. The main reason is that honeybees are abundant and widespread everywhere. They have well developed mechanism of communication to exploit their environment. The value of additional yields obtained by pollination service rendered by honeybees is 15-20 times more than the value of all hive products put together. Studies conducted in Ethiopia have also proven the role of honeybee pollination in improving the yield and quality of some crops such as Malus sylvestris (apple), Allium cepa (red onion), Guizotia abyssinica (niger) and Vicia faba (faba bean). The yield increment was varied from 33.5-84% among the above crops due to honeybee pollination. However, unwise pesticide applications become the main problem for some crops in Ethiopia. This is due to, low level understanding of the value of pollination on the yield of agricultural crops. Therefore, attention should be given for the legal protection of honeybees and other insect pollinators; especially, protecting the honeybees from pesticide poisoning, developing pollinators’ conservation policy, the idea of crop pollination should be included in national crop production strategic plan and awareness creation should be given to the society about the value of crop pollination.

Download Full-text

Antioxidative Propolis From Stingless Bees (Heterotrigona Itama) Preserves Endothelium-Dependent Aortic Relaxation of Diabetic Rats: The Role of Nitric Oxide and Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate

Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.1590/s2175-97902020000419187 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

Author(s):

Boon Seng Yeoh ◽

Norsuhana Omar ◽

Mahaneem Mohammad ◽

Siti Safiah Mokhtar ◽

Rozaziana Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Stingless Bees ◽

Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Guanosine Monophosphate

Download Full-text

The Role of Useful Microorganisms to Stingless Bees and Stingless Beekeeping

Pot-Honey ◽

10.1007/978-1-4614-4960-7_10 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 153-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Cristiano Menezes ◽

Ayrton Vollet-Neto ◽

Felipe Andrés Felipe León Contrera ◽

Giorgio Cristino Venturieri ◽

Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca

Keyword(s):

Stingless Bees

Download Full-text

Understanding the role of species richness for crop pollination services

Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning, and Human Wellbeing ◽

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199547951.003.0014 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 195-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Alexandra-Maria Klein ◽

Christine Müller ◽

Patrick Hoehn ◽

Claire Kremen

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Crop Pollination ◽

Pollination Services

Download Full-text

Stingless bees, tribe Meliponini.

Crop pollination by bees, Volume 1: Evolution, ecology, conservation, and management ◽

10.1079/9781786393494.0011 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 134-141

Author(s):

Keith S. Delaplane

Keyword(s):

Stingless Bees ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Crop Pollination ◽

Biological Development

Abstract This chapter provides information on morphological characteristics, nest composition, biological development, reproduction, crop pollination, and meliponiculture of stingless bees.

Download Full-text

Crop pollination by bees, Volume 1: Evolution, ecology, conservation, and management

10.1079/9781786393494.0000 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Stingless Bees ◽

Foraging Ecology ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Solitary Bees ◽

Bumble Bees ◽

Crop Pollination ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Insect Ecology ◽

Conservation And Management ◽

Bee Abundance

Abstract This volume is intended as a practical guide to bees and how they pollinate essential crops, providing simple, succinct advice on how to increase bee abundance and pollination. It focuses on bees, their biology, coevolution with plants, foraging ecology and management, and gives practical ways to increase bee abundance and pollinating performance on the farm. This volume covers five groups of pollinating bees that are prominent in the crop pollination literature: honeybees (Chapter 7); bumble bees (Chapter 8); managed solitary bees including the alfalfa leafcutting, alkali and orchard mason bees (Chapter 9); wild bees (Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 10); and the tropical stingless bees. This volume will be essential reading for farmers, horticulturists and gardeners, researchers and professionals working in insect ecology and conservation, and students of entomology and crop protection.

Download Full-text