What odd tool did Mayan beekeepers use?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
November 27, 2002
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In 1519, Hernán Cortés reported beekeeping by natives of Mexico. Maya, Aztec, and other indigenous groups kept domesticated Melipona bees. The meliponids are warm-climate bees and are the natural pollinators for the Vanilla orchid. Unlike the introduced European honeybee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) which constructs combs, meliponid bees store honey in wax cups.
According to Microlivestock: Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future (National Academies Press, 1991), "For thousands of years in the tropical Americas, Indians have raised them in special hives made out of logs, gourds, clay pots, and other simple containers."
Honey from these bees has lower sugar content than honey from the introduced honeybee, but the Melipona honey is considered better tasting. The Maya so honored honey and honey wine, they had festivals dedicated to the god of honey, Ah Mucan Cab.
Meliponid bees have atrophied stingers and hence are not capable of stinging. Mild-mannered by European honeybee standards, the meliponids are not defenseless. According to Conrad Berube, "some species of which are equipped with acidic mandibular secretions capable of raising nasty welts when one is bitten...." (Island Crop Management, 1995)
Archaeological investigations found numerous sites where Mayans kept bees for honey production. Although native beekeepers did not need hats, face nets, and other skin protective equipment, the sites turned up carved stone earplugs designed to keep the Melipona bees out of the beekeepers' ears.
The Apiculture and Social Insect Laboratory with the University of Sheffield has a page about studies of Melipona beecheii by Dr. T. Wenseleers. To learn more about these stingless bees and to view photographs, click on the link:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/projects/taplab/twenseleers.html
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Suggested Reading:
What Aztec insect was worth its weight in gold? Plants that Changed History - July 23, 2002
How did Aztecs cure fear? Herbal Folklore - September 30, 2002
How were spiderworts used by the Aztec? Herbal Folklore - December 16, 2002
What was the scarlet of the Aztecs? Renfield's Garden - July 24, 2002
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