Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2021 | 13(5): 18344–18348
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4504.13.5.18344-18348
#4504 | Received 13 October 2019 | Final
received 05 August 2020 | Finally accepted 04 April 2021
Report on the stingless bees of Bhutan (Hymenoptera: Apidae:
Meliponini)
Tshering Nidup
Associate Lecturer,
Department of Environment and Life Sciences, Sherubtse
College, Royal University of Bhutan, Trashigang,
Bhutan.
khangpa@gmail.com
Editor: Deborah Smith, University of
Kansas, Lawrence, USA. Date of publication: 26
April 2021 (online & print)
Citation: Nidup, T. (2021). Report on the
stingless bees of Bhutan (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini). Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(5): 18344–18348. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4504.13.5.18344-18348
Copyright: © Nidup 2021. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTDEF) & Sherubtse College.
Competing interests: The author declares no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We are grateful to
Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC), National Biodiversity
Center (NBC), Bhutan and Sherubtse
College, Royal University of Bhutan for the successful completion of this
work. Thanks are also to my students Deo
Kumar Rai and Bishal Rai of B.Sc. Life Science, who
helped me in data collection. Author
would like to thank Deo Kumar Rai and Bishal Rai for
contributing of the specimen and the photographs.
Abstract: Two species of
stingless bees, Tetragonula gressitti (Sakagami) and Lepidotrigona
arcifera (Cockerell),
are reported from Bhutan for the first time.
The nest description and meliponiculture are
described. This is the gross
underestimation of Meliponini diversity in Bhutan and
summons more study on the diversity, biology, and meliponiculture.
Keywords: Diversity, meliponiculture, Lepidotrigona
arcifera, Tetragonula
gressitti
Abbreviation: NBCB—National
Biodiversity Center, Bhutan.
Stingless bee keeping
is known as meliponiculture (Cortopassi-Laurino
et al. 2006) and is a rare activity in Bhutan, where it is considered a sin to
taste even a tiny drop of honey, from a Buddhist perspective. Perhaps this explains its uncommonness in the
country. Although a very few people in
southern Bhutan rear stingless bees for domestic consumption nevertheless there
is no published record of stingless bee species in Bhutan. Stingless bee honey and propolis are known to
have high medicinal value (Choudhari et al. 2012; Vit et al. 2004).
Stingless bees not only produce high-priced honey, but also help in
pollination of crops, though they are facing various threats at present (Slaa et al. 2006).
Therefore, a huge opportunity for meliponiculture
exists in Bhutan, with 72% of the country under forest cover with rich and
diverse flora, and chemical use in agriculture almost nonexistent,
making the country attractive for large-scale organic meliponiculture
(Gupta et al. 2014).
There are about 600
species of Meliponini in global tropical and
subtropical areas (Cortopassi-Laurino et al. 2006).
The Indo-Malayan region has 89 recognized stingless bee species, 43 in Asia and
eight in the Indian subcontinent (Michener 2007; Rasmussen 2008; Rasmussen
2013). Two local types (white and black)
of stingless bees were collected from different localities of Bhutan. They are
locally known as “Putkha” in Nepali (Rasmussen 2013)
but they are unambiguously named as “Kalo putka” (=black putka) and Shayto putka (=white putka) in Bhutan.
Locally it is said that the honey of the black species has a higher
medicinal value than the white (Deo K. Rai pers. comm. 10.xi.2017) though it is
yet to be proven.
Specimens were
collected with a sweep net. Collected
specimens were pinned, dried and stored.
Identifications were based on Sakagami (1978), Smith (unpublished),
Rasmussen (2013), and Rathor et al. (2013). Measurements were made with digital Vernier caliper under a stereo microscope. The specimens were deposited in the National
Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, Thimphu,
Bhutan and a registered reference number is provided for each specimen as
provided in the materials examined.
Identifications were based on worker specimens collected during the
invertebrate inventory project field work in 2014–2017 that focused on
Hymenoptera (bees and wasps), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Coleoptera (beetles), Odonata (dragonflies and
damselflies), and Mollusca (snails and slugs).
The project was funded by the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental
Conservation (BTFEC) and coordinated by National Biodiversity Center, Bhutan. The
surveys were conducted by the experts from Sherubtse
College and College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for
Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER), National Plant Protection
Centre (NPPC) and Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The
Netherlands. Distribution within Bhutan
is provided with Districts followed by localities in parenthesis.
Results and discussion
Genus Tetragonula Moure,
1961
The genus Tetragonula Moure is
differentiated by the combination of the following characters: small size, body
smooth, shiny with minute punctation; scutellum
projecting backward, over-arching almost the whole propodeum; basal area of
propodeum smooth, shiny and hairless; five hammuli
per hind wing, hind basitarsus narrower than tibia with large sericeous patch;
metasoma narrower than thorax; mesopleural hairs
silvery white; clypeus with microscopic appressed silvery-white hairs; malar
space not well developed; mandible with 2 teeth; wings uniformly clear.
Tetragonula gressitti
(Sakagami, 1978)
(Image 1A,B,C, 2, 3)
Trigona (Tetragonula)
gressitti Sakagami 1978: 214–216;
Holotype: worker; Type locality: Vietnam, Lâm Đồng province in the central Highlands. Diagnosis: highly melanic; body, scape,
alveolus, flagella, hairs, corbicular bristles
clypeus, tegula, legs and metasoma black; scape long; mesoscutal
hairs do not form distinct bands; mesosoma and metasoma glossy. In Nepali it is known as “kalo
putka” corresponding to its melanic body.
Measurements: Seven
workers; total body length: 4.39–5.59 mm (mean 5.14mm); Forewing length
excluding tegula: 4.31–4.89 mm (mean 4.62mm); Hind tibia length: 1.67–1.78 mm
(mean: 1.73mm).
Materials examined:
NBCB00282, NBCB00283, NBCB00284, NBCB00285, NBCB00286, NBCB00287, NBCB00288,
29.vii.2016, 7 females, Khengpagang, Sarpang (26.848N & 89.396E, 461m), coll.
Deo Kumar Rai & Bishal Rai from a reared
colony.
Remark: This species
is reported for the first time from Bhutan and known only from a reared colony
in Sarpang District and warrants further exploration.
Distribution: Vietnam
(Sakagami 1978), India (Rathor et al. 2013), Bhutan.
Genus Lepidotrigona Schwarz, 1939
This genus is
distinguished by having six hamuli and dense tesselation on head and thorax; mesonotum
with a border of thick, scale-like yellow or whitish hairs. Basitarsis
is without sericeous patch on inner face of basitarsus which is rather
uniformly setose.
Lepidotrigona arcifera (Cockerell,
1929) (Image 4, A & B; Image 5, 6 & 7)
Trigona arcifera Cockerell
1929: 591–592: Holotype: worker (BMNH 17b.1081); Type locality: India, Sikkim,
Teesta bridge.
Diagnosis: Generally
black; complete semicircular dark band on the pale
first metasomal tergum partly enclosing the basal
depression; yellowish apical metasomal terga; densely
plumose (“scale-like”) hairs on margin of mesoscutum;
body and wing each more than or equal to 4mm in length.
Measurements: 12
workers; total body length: 4–4.60 mm (mean: 4.14mm); forewing length excluding
tegula: 3.99–4.91 mm (mean: 4.49mm).
Materials examined:
NBCB00268, NBCB00269, NBCB00270, 29.vii.2016, 3 females, Rinchending,
Chhukha, (26.848N & 89.396E, 461m), coll. Tshering Nidup; NBCB00271,
NBCB00272, NBCB00273, 23.x.2015, 3 females Yongkola, Monggar (27.306N & 91.164E, 1,553m), coll. Phurpa Dorji & Wim Klein;
NBCB00274, NBCB00275, NBCB00276, NBCB00277, NBCB00278, NBCB00279, NBCB00280,
NBCB00281, 29.vii.2016, 8 females, Khengpagang, Sarpang (26.848N & 89.396E, 461m), coll. Deo Kumar Rai
& Bishal Rai.
Remark: This species
seems to be widely distributed and recorded at the altitude range of
461–1,553m. It is reported from the
seven districts of Chhukha, Dagana,
Mongar, Zhemgang, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang, Tsirang and Sarpang however, the nest entrance were examined only in Serzhong (Mongar), Dorona (Dagana), Shumar & Nganglam (Pemagatshel), Mantar & Pemathang
(Samdrup Jongkhar), Dovan & Goang (Sarpang), Tsholingkhar (Tsirang), and Panbang (Zhemgang).
Distribution: India
(Rasmussen 2008, 2013) Bhutan.
Nest description and meliponiculture
A nest of L. arcifera was observed under natural conditions in the
oak forest in Pemagatshel (Image 6). It was nesting in the trunk of an oak tree,
ca. 4m above ground on the bulging side of the trunk. The area was sloping and the ground was clear
without much undergrowth. The nest
entrance varies from broadly funnel-like to round and little narrow at the base
but in some the base can be bulging. The
color of the entrance is lighter at the tip and
darker to reddish-brown at the base. The
entrance is bit angled downward and the rim appears as though sliced angularly. It is guarded by 5–12 adults based on a
series of the nest photographs. The nest
entrance measures about 1.6cm in width (opening), 2cm in length (opening),
7.5cm dorsally from tip to base and 6.5cm ventrally. T. gressitti
do not make any nest entrance like L. arcifera;
however, it coats the nest tunnel with yellowish substances (likely resin or
resin mixed with wax) (Image 2).
According to one
informant, honey is extracted in winter and each L. arcifera
colony provides approximately 750 ml/year. T. gressitti
is thought to produce slightly more than 750 ml/year. Honey of T. gressitti
is sold at Nu. 6000 (=100 US Dollars) and honey of L. arcifera
at Nu. 3000 (=50 US Dollars), per 750 ml.
Currently 20 households rear L. arcifera
in Khengpagang village in Sarpang
District but only one household rears T. gressitti.
The first author also saw one household rearing L. arcifera
at Tsholingkhar Village in Tsirang.
These bees are
brought to the village from the forest with an undisturbed nest after cutting
the trunk of the tree they were nesting in.
They are then placed around the house in any position in case of L. arcifera, but in upright position in case of T.
gressitti (Image 3). It is said that T. gressitti
colony leaves the nest if kept in other positions. They are reared in a natural way and it was
never observed that the bees were kept in rational hives or that the keepers
knew how to perform divisions of the colonies or artificial feeding.
References
Choudhari, M.K., S.A. Punekar,
R.V. Ranade & K.M. Paknikar (2012). Journal of
Ethnopharmacology 141: 363–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.02.047
Cockerell, T.D.A. (1929). Descriptions and
records of bees.—CXX. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10(4):
584–594.
Cortopassi-Laurino, M., V.L.
Imperatriz-Fonseca, D.W. Roubik, A. Dollin, T. Heard, I.B. Aguilar, G.C. Venturieri,
C. Eardley & P. Nogueira-Neto (2006). Global Meliponiculture: challenges and opportunities. Apidologie 37: 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2006027
Gupta, R.K., W. Raybroeck, J.W. van Veen &
A. Gupta (2014). Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood
Security. Springer, London, 665pp.
Michener, C.D. (2007). The Bees of The World. Johns Hopkins
University Press, Baltimore, xiv+[1]+913pp.
Rasmussen, C. (2008). Catalog of the
Indo-Malayan/Australasian stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae:
Meliponini). Zootaxa
1935: 1–80.
Rasmussen, C. (2013). Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) of the Indian
subcontinent: Diversity, taxonomy and current status of knowledge. Zootaxa 3647(3): 401–428.
Rathor, V.S., C. Rasmussen
& M.S. Sainai (2013). New record of the
stingless bee Tetragonula gressitti from India (Hymenoptera: Apidae:
Meliponini). Journal of Melittology
7: 1–5.
Sakagami, S.F. (1978). Tetragonula
stingless bees of the continental Asia and Sri Lanka (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido
University, Series VI, Zoology 21(2): 165–247.
Slaa, E.J., L.A.S. Cheves, K.S. Malagodi-Braga &
F.E. Hofstede (2006). Stingless bees in applied pollination:
practice and perspectives. Apidologie 37:
293–315. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2006022
Vit, P., M. Medina &
M.E. Enríquez (2004). Quality standards
for medicinal uses of Meliponinae honey in Guatemala,
Mexico and Venezuela. Bee World 85(1): 2–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2004.11099603