The wild bee Melipona Beecheii

An old species of bee lives on the Mexican Yucatán penin­sula: the Melipona beecheii. This wild bee is partic­u­larly small and produces little honey compared to other bees. However, it is of great impor­tance for agri­cul­ture. In Mexico, the Melipona beecheii polli­nates avocado, coffee, pumpkin, mango, cucumber, water­melon, tomato and various spices.

May 2026

Text: Annina Werths
Illustration: Gernot Walter

Domes­ti­cated for

0

years

The Mayan people in Mexico kept this type of wild bee more than 1,500 years ago and described it as sacred.

Stin­g­less

The bee has no sting. She bites as soon as she suspects danger.

5 – 8

millimeter

The bee polli­nates tiny flowers. For example, the 5-8mm small avocado blossom.

Honey­comb

The brood cells in the honey­comb form a pyramid that resem­bles the Mayan temple pyra­mids.

0

liters per year

This bee produces rela­tively little honey. It only produces 1.5 litres a year per beehive.

Healthy

The honey is said to be healing. It strengthens the immune system, is anti-inflam­ma­tory and mois­tur­ising and there­fore inter­esting for the cosmetics industry.