Meliponario

The University is planning to have a display/ interactive museum of Meliponas bees in the castle in Alliance with the University of Medellin. Melipona bees (also known as angelitas), are bees with no stinger and native to the area🙏 you Natasha and Juan David for your support.

The Humboldt report highlights the importance of this project in Colombia.

Reporte Humboldt
http://reporte.humboldt.org.co/biodiversidad/2020/cap2/206/#seccion5

In Colombia, the taxonomic gap in relation to Native Stingless Bees (ANSA) is large. The publication of lists of species diversity and their updated distribution is necessary, as well as the strengthening of the identification methods used by meliponiculturists. There is an urgent need for national environmental regulations for meliponiculture that facilitate, encourage and regulate this practice, thus promoting the sustainable use of stingless bees in Colombian territory.

En Colombia, el vacío taxonómico en relación con las Abejas Nativas sin Aguijón (ANSA) es grande. Es necesaria la publicación de listas de diversidad de especies y su distribución actualizada, así como el fortalecimiento de los métodos de identificación usados por los meliponicultores. Urge una normativa nacional ambiental para la meliponicultura que facilite, incentive y regule esta práctica, promoviendo así el uso sostenible de las abejas sin aguijón en el territorio colombiano.

Reporte biodiversidad Humboldt, 2020,Fficha 206, Carvajal, Nuñez, Abejas sin aguijón en Colombia, Estado de la meliponicultura en Colombia

The following video shows how to find them in your home and how to identify the different parts of their panel.

These bees are called Angelitas because they do not sting and produce excellent quality honey that is used for medicinal purposes.
It belongs to the family of stingless bees. The angel bee (Tetragonisca angustula), also known as yateí or yatey, doncella, Mariola and Mariaseca, is native to Latin America, and extends from Mexico to Argentina.

It belongs to the family of stingless bees (melipona) and produces honey. Since they do not have a sting, these bees particularly defend themselves from small insects by impregnating them with resin, biting them or clinging to their wings to prevent their flight and at night they close the entrance to their hive.

It measures from 4mm to 5mm.

It multiplies by swarms. It nests in cavities in tree trunks or guaduas or in walls. The entrance to the nest is a tube, built with soft wax, its wall is thin and has small holes. Each colony has 2,000 to 5,000 bees.

Unlike Apis honey, which is known and consumed mostly by the population, angelita honey has a higher percentage of moisture and is naturally fermented by microorganisms, making it more acidic, which gives it particular organoleptic properties.

Its honey is highly valued for food and is credited with medicinal properties. It has been proven that its honey contains antibiotic substances, but its use must be done under medical supervision.

This honey can cost 8 times more than normal bee honey since it is scarcer and is highly valued for its antibacterial substances and therapeutic properties.

This honey is the treasure of Latin America.