THB STINGLESS BBES of north A.ND SOUTH AMERICA. 99 



The Stingless Bees uf North and South America considered in 

 the Light of Domestication. 



By E. HAMLYN-HARRIS, D.Sc, F.R.M.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



Id the same way as the introduction and domestication of Apis 

 dorsata, known as the Giant Bee of India, has been considered (antea, xiv., 

 p. 2), so also do I desire to draw the attention of beekeepers to the same 

 subject in connection with the stingless bees of America, in the hope 

 that, by the consideration of these species in comparison with Apis 

 melUjica, some progress may be made towards the bettering of the bee- 

 industry and obtaining a more prolific and profitable race of bees. 

 Various attempts have from time to time been made in the direction 

 of lieeping these bees in a state of domestication, but without success, 

 e.g., Drory, amongst others, narrates l\eeping Melipona in wooden 

 hives. Although the stingless bees are very industrious and the queen 

 is very fertile, yet there are so many considerations which must be 

 primarily overcome before we can attribute any financial value to 

 them, that it will be to our advantage to discuss the matter more fully. 



It is a generally recognised fact that the species of the genera Melipona 

 and Triijnna are vastly inferior to Apis meUifica, and we would here state 

 the reason for this conclusion. In order to do this, however, it is neces- 

 sary to look a little into the natural history of these bees, and to learn 

 something of their ways and habits. The bees in question are small 

 squat bees of varied colours, and build, in their natural state, in (1) 

 hollow trees, (2) in cracks or gaps in river-banks (perpendicular), and 

 (3) in the nests of termites. They do not confine themselves to these 

 places, but these three mentioned are, doubtless, the more ordinary 

 nesting-places. When they take possession of a nest of termites the 

 bees close up all entrances with the exception of one, and, in some cases, 

 make funnel-shaped openings. No wax is used for this purpose, biit a 

 kind of propolis and other vegetable stuffs, as well as clayey soil, are 

 worked up for the purposes of construction. The nests are variously 

 built, Drory mentioning no fewer than eleven varieties. Each nest 

 consists of a number of brood cells and honey-cells, which are quite 

 distinctive. The honey and pollen are stored in large irregular cells 

 of wax, the shape of a bird's egg, to be found in the proximity of 

 the brood nests, as certain cells are technically called. The combs are 

 placed mouth downwards, and consist of a single tier. The dift'erence 

 in the nests consists, to a great extent, in the arrangement of the 

 interior : 



A. Brood cells and honey cells coated with a covering consisting of scales of 

 wax, and of a dark brown colour. 



B. With only the brood cells covered in the way described under A, whilst 

 the honey cells are separated from the brood as is the case, for instance, with 

 Melipona sciUellarif! (Abehtra uruffa of the natives). 



C. The brood cells are arranged in bundles like grapes, whilst round these 

 are placed the honey cells, which arc built into the nests by wax bands, r.g., 

 Triijona cilipes. 



As regards the brood nest. The eggs are laid, as is the case with 

 the majority of wild bees, on a mixture of pollen and nectar, whilst the 

 beekeeper will call to memory the fact that, in the case of Apis tndlijica, 

 pollen is not given to the larva as food until it is in a position to consume 

 it, a difference which must be noted. When the larva pupates the 

 cells are closed, not as in the case of the honey-bee with a mixture of 



