Research Article | Published: 30 December 2024

Stingless beekeeping for sustainable livelihoods: Empowering rural communities in Karnataka, India

Charanakumar and Dwarakanath Venkatesha

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 31 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 343-347 | 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2024-5XUXED | Cite this article

Abstract

The study documents traditional knowledge and practices of stingless beekeeping (meliponiculture) among rural communities in southern Karnataka. Ethnographic surveys across four districts examined local taxonomy, traditional techniques, and the marketing of stingless bees and their hive products. The findings emphasize their role in pollination, medicinal applications, and terrace gardening, and highlight innovative, sustainable practices using locally available materials. The study underscores the need to promote meliponiculture to support livelihoods, conserve biodiversity, and preserve traditional knowledge in the region.

Keywords

Hive products, Meliponiculture, Rural communities, Traditional knowledge

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Ayala, R., Gonzalez, V.H. and Engel, M.S., 2013. Mexican stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Diversity, distribution, and indigenous knowledge. In Vit, P., S.R.M. Pedro, & D. Roubik (eds), Pot-Honey: A Legacy of Stingless Bees: pp.135-152. Springer; New York.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4960-7_9

Google Scholar

2. Bailey, K.D., 1987. Methods of Social Research [3rd Edition]. Free Press; New York.

Google Scholar

3. Barbosa F.M, Alves R.M.O., Souza B.A. and Carvalho C.A.L., 2013. Nest architecture of the stingless bee Geotrigona subterranea (Friese,1901) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini). Biota Neotropica 13(1), pp.147-152.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032013000100017

Google Scholar

4. Bhatta, C.P. and Bardecki, M., 2014. Is foreign aid making a difference? A case study of Sagarmatha National Park Forestry Project, Khumbu, Nepal. New Angle: Nepal. Journal of Social Science and Public Policy, 3, pp.84-97.  https://doi.org/10.53037/na.v3i1.29

Google Scholar

5. Bhatta, C.P. and Tamrakar, A.S., 2009. Flying predators of honeybees in different apiaries of Kathmandu valley. Journal of Natural History Museum, 24, pp.121-125.  https://doi.org/10.3126/jnhm.v24i1.2286

Google Scholar

6. Bhatta, C., Gonzalez, V.H. and Smith, D., 2020. Traditional uses and relative cultural importance of Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in Nepal. Journal of Melittology, (97), pp.1-13.  https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.vi97.13620

Google Scholar

7. Bhatta, C.P., Gonzalez, V.H., Mayes, D.,  Simões, M.  and Smith, D.R., 2019. Nesting biology and niche modelling of Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) in Nepal. Journal of Apicultural Research, 58(4), pp.501-511.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2019.1614729

Google Scholar

8. Charanakumar, Bhatta, C.P., and Chandrashekar, J.S., 2022. Current status of meliponiculture and its cultural importance in the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Apicultural Research, 61(5), pp.706–716.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2022.2115270

Google Scholar

9. Crane, E., 1999. The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting. New York, NY: Routledge.  https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203819937

10. Danaraddi C.S., Viraktamath S., Basavanagoud K. and Bhat A.R.S.,  2009. Nesting habits and nest structure of stingless bee, Trigona iridipennis Smith at Dharwad, Karnataka. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Science, 22(2), pp.310-313

Google Scholar

11. Engel, M.S., Rasmussen, C., Ayala, R. and De Oliveira, F.F., 2023. Stingless bee classification and biology (Hymenoptera, Apidae): a review, with an updated key to genera and subgenera. ZooKeys, 1172, pp.239–312.  https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1172.104944

Google Scholar

12. Gajanan, S., Mohite G.C., Kuberappa and Kencharaddi R.N., 2005. The nest architecture of stingless bee Trigona iridipennis. Indian Bee Journal 67: pp.36- 40.

Google Scholar

13. Gonzalez, V.H., Amith, J.D. and Stein, T.J., 2018. Nesting ecology and the cultural importance of stingless bees to speakers of Yoloxóchitl Mixtec, an endangered language in Guerrero, Mexico. Apidologie 49(5), pp.625-636.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-018-0590-2

Google Scholar

14. Heard, T.A., 1999. The role of stingless bees in crop pollination. Annual Review of Entomology, 44, pp.183-206.  https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.44.1.183

Google Scholar

15. Jha, S., and Vandermeer, J., 2010. Impacts of coffee agroforestry management on tropical bee communities. Biological Conservation, 143(6), pp.1423–1431.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.03.017

Google Scholar

16. Layek, U., and Karmakar, P., 2018. Nesting characteristics, floral resources, and foraging activity of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Insect. Soc. 65, pp.117–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-017-0593-4

Google Scholar

17. Quezada-Euán, J., Nates-Parra, G., Maués, M.M., Imperatriz-Fonseca, V.L. and Roubik., D.W.,  2018. Economic and cultural values of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) among ethnic groups of tropical Americas. Sociobiology, 65(4), pp.534-557.  https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v65i4.3447

Google Scholar

18. Quezada-Euán, J.,May-Itzá, W., and González-Acereto, J., 2001. Meliponiculture in Mexico problems and perspective for development. Bee World,  84(4), pp.160-167.  https://doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2001.11099523

Google Scholar

19. Quezada-Euán, J.,May-Itzá, W., and González-Acereto, J., 2001. Meliponiculture in Mexico problems and perspective for development. Bee World,  84(4), pp.160-167.  https://doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2001.11099523

Google Scholar

20. Rasmussen, C., 2013. Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) of the Indian subcontinent: Diversity, taxonomy and current status of knowledge. Zootaxa, 3647(3), pp.401-428.  https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3647.3.1

Google Scholar

21. Rasmussen, C., Thomas, J.C. and Engel, M.S., 2017. A new genus of Eastern Hemisphere stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with a key to the supraspecific groups of Indomalayan and Australasian Meliponini. American Museum Novitates, 3888, pp.1-33.  https://doi.org/10.1206/3888.1

Google Scholar

22. Reyes-Gonz_alez, A., Camou-Guerrero, A., Reyes-Salas, O., Argueta, A. and Casas, A., 2014. Diversity, local knowledge and use of stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in the municipality of Nocup_etaro, Michoac_an, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 10(1), p.47.  https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-10-47

Google Scholar

23. Rozman, A.S., Hashim, N., Maringgal, B., and Abdan, K., 2022. A comprehensive review of stingless bee products: phytochemical composition and beneficial properties of honey, propolis, and pollen. Applied Sciences, 12(13), 6370.  https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136370

Google Scholar

24. Shashidhar Viraktamath, Roy J., 2022. Description of five new species of Tetragonula (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) from India. Biologia. 77(7), pp.1769–1793.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01040-8

Google Scholar

25. Thubten Gyeltshen, Bhatta, C.P., Gurung, T., Pelden Dorji, and Jigme Tenzin., 2024. Ethno-medicinal uses and cultural importance of stingless bees and their hive products in several ethnic communities of Bhutan. Journal of ethnobiology and ethno medicine, 20(1).  https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3427778/v1

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Charanakumar and Venkatesha, D., 2024. Stingless beekeeping for sustainable livelihoods: Empowering rural communities in Karnataka, India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 31(4), pp.343-347. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2024-5XUXED

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 20 November 2024

Manuscript Revised on 16 December 2024

Manuscript Accepted on 23 December 2024

Manuscript Published on 30 December 2024

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: