BFFs with Wings: How Melipona Bees Choose Their Favourite Companions

Do Melipona Bees Have Best Friends? The Secret Social Life of Costa Rica’s Native Stingless Bees

Can bees really have best friends?Yes, studies show that bees form preferred relationships, and Melipona bees may share this social trait.

Honeybees are famously social, but recent studies have uncovered something charming—bees can actually have “best friends.” They tend to groom, forage, and even sleep next to specific individuals more often than others. But what about Melipona bees, Costa Rica’s stingless pollinators? Let’s explore whether these native bees also form special bonds within their hives.

What are Melipona bees and how are they different?

Melipona bees are stingless, tropical bees native to Central and South America.

Unlike European honeybees, Melipona bees don’t sting but defend their colonies by biting or buzzing intruders. They’re quieter, smaller, and less aggressive—but deeply vital for the pollination of native plants and food crops in Costa Rica. With over 30 species in the region, Meliponas play a major role in biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

Do Melipona bees show signs of friendship?

Yes, early observations suggest that Melipona bees do form close working partnerships within the hive.

Researchers studying Melipona bee behaviour have noted that some individuals:

• Spend more time together in shared tasks like foraging or guarding.

• Repeatedly sleep or rest near the same individuals.

• Exchange food more frequently with specific bees (a process known as trophallaxis).

• Cooperate during nest cleaning or tending to brood cells.

This implies a form of social preference, if not full “friendship” as we know it.

How do Melipona bees communicate with each other?

Melipona bees use scent trails, buzzing sounds, and body language to “talk.”

Communication in the hive is essential for survival. Melipona bees:

• Release pheromones to signal threats or mating readiness.

• Create specific vibration patterns to guide other bees to food sources.

• Use antennal touches to identify nestmates.

• Form scent maps that lead others to productive flowers.

These methods support complex social interaction, including possible preference for certain partners.

Why would bees benefit from friendships?

Bees with strong social ties may work more efficiently and reduce internal conflict.

In social insect colonies, harmony is key. Friendships or social bonds can help:

• Speed up task coordination between bees.

• Reduce competition for food or space.

• Create informal teamwork groups (e.g., bees who consistently forage together).

• Strengthen overall colony health and resilience.

In Melipona hives—where roles are more fluid than in honeybee hives—these bonds might be even more important.

Are there any scientific studies about Melipona bee friendships?

Formal studies are limited, but anecdotal and field observations are growing.

While most friendship research focuses on European honeybees, Costa Rican conservationists and Meliponiculturists (stingless bee keepers) report:

• Repeat interactions among same individuals across days.

• Partnered bees defending entrances together more than randomly expected.

• “Favourite” companions during nest building or food gathering.

These repeated pairings suggest something deeper than chance.

Could understanding bee friendships help conservation?

Yes, recognising social bonds in bees may improve hive health and preservation strategies.

If we treat bee colonies not just as insect factories but as social networks, we can:

• Reduce stress during hive relocation by keeping bonded groups intact.

• Enhance breeding success by supporting natural social behaviour.

• Improve pollination by pairing friendly foragers in fieldwork.

This approach could be especially valuable for protecting endangered Melipona species.

FAQ: Melipona Bee Friendships

Q: Do all bees form friendships?A: Not all bees are social. Solitary species do not form bonds, but many social bees, including Melipona, show preferences for certain nestmates.

Q: Can we identify Melipona bee friendships by watching them?A: Yes, repeated grooming, sharing food, and resting together are visual clues.

Q: Are bee friendships emotional like in humans?A: It’s not emotional in the human sense, but the behaviour reflects preference and repeated cooperation.

Q: Does this mean bees have personalities?A: Yes! Studies suggest individual bees can have traits like boldness, sociability, or laziness—just like us.

Q: Why is this discovery important?A: It changes how we view bee intelligence, encouraging more humane and effective ways to care for and conserve them.