Melipona beecheii is a species of eusocial stingless bee. It is native to Central America from the Yucatán Peninsula in the north to Costa Rica in the south. M. beecheii was cultivated in the Yucatán Peninsula starting in the pre-Columbian era by the ancient Maya civilization. The Mayan name for M. beecheii is xunan kab, which translates roughly to "regal lady bee". M. beecheii serves as the subject of various Mayan religious ceremonies. Queens usually have a longer and more slender body compared to other species of bees.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Mayan Melipona being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Melipona marginata
- Melipona quinquefasciata
- Melipona eburnea
- Melipona favosa
- Melipona costaricensis
- Melipona mondury
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Apidae
- Genus
- Melipona
- Species
- Melipona beecheii
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