The microbial partners of stingless bees and their hives

Stingless bees, close relatives of honeybees, are named for their reduced sting and have been valued since ancient times for their sweet, medicinal honey. With around 500 known species, they are especially diverse in the Neotropics—Central and South America, southern Mexico, and the Caribbean.

These eusocial insects, known for their division of labor and cooperative nesting, are key pollinators. Their colonies host diverse microorganisms that support their development and may contribute to their evolutionary success. However, like many Neotropical species, stingless bees face threats from climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, and agrochemical pollution. Protecting them is essential both for ecosystem health and for deepening our understanding of their interactions with beneficial microbes.