STINGLESS BEES REARING IN

Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca and Marilda Cortopassi-Laurino

Universidade de São Paulo, Depto de Ecologia 05508-900 São Paulo Brazil [email protected], [email protected]

Stingless bees rearing is an increasing activity in Brazil. In the high bee´s diversity, their regional distribution and the development of local management technologies contribute to the interest on the stingless bees rearing.

Beekeepers and their meetings, newsletters, journals, home pages, discussion lists and courses or conferences by scientists are part of the system for connecting knowledge on stingless bees biology and rearing techniques. The community looks for training programmes and identification services; their specific questions and answers (right or wrong) are exposed in a discussion list ([email protected]) that shows their level of expertise.

Some stingless bees beekeepers are organized in cooperative society or associations, whereas others are operating more isolated (although sometimes very successfully). The main trading products are honey (which price is much higher than Apis honey, but the production much smaller) and nests. Initiatives on the use of stingless bees as crop pollinators are still experimental.

Financing projects on stingless bees rearing are increasing in importance our country. There is a discussion if with Apis or with stingless bees are activities for sustainable development. There is a demand for studies concerning the competition between africanized honeybees and native bees in natural areas.

It is expected that the International Pollination Initiative, recently approved by the Conference of Parties 5 from Biodiversity Convention, will give additional support to the training on stingless bee rearing activities and general knowledge.

Proceedings of the 37th International Apicultural Congress, 28 October – 1 November 2001, Durban, APIMONDIA 2001 To be referenced as: Proc. 37th Int. Apic. Congr., 28 Oct – 1 Nov 2001, Durban, South Africa ISBN: 0-620-27768-8 Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies Organised by: Conference Planners STINGLESS BEES REARING IN BRAZIL

Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca and Marilda Cortopassi-Laurino

Universidade de São Paulo, Depto de Ecologia 05508-900 São Paulo Brazil [email protected], [email protected]

Curriculum vitae : Vera Lucia Imperatriz Fonseca

28.09.46 Born in S. Paulo, Brazil 1952-1964 Primary school and high school 1965-1968 Biology course at S. Paulo University 1970 Master degree in Zoology at Biosciences Institute- S. Paulo University (IBUSP) 1975 PH D in Sciences at Biosciences Institute- S. Paulo University 1982 Livre Dozencia in Ecology 1992 Full Professor for Ecology at Biosciences Institute – S. Paulo University Scientific Curriculum 1972/1976 Assistant at Zoology Department at IBUSP from 1977 onwards Assistant at Ecology Department 1979-1981 Coordinator of a FAPESP project “ Bees and environment” 1983-4 Research Coordinator at Jureia Ecological Station 1992-1996 President of the Brazilian and Latin American Branch of International Union for the study of social insects (IUSSI) 1986 Organization of a symposium on stingless bees at the International Congress (IUSSI) in München 1989 Member of the Scientific Comitee for the International Apimondia Congress, in , Brazil 1990 Organization of a symposium on stingless bees at the International Congress (IUSSI) in Bangalore, India, with Dieter Wittmann 1994,1996,1998,2000 - Organization of scientific symposium in the Brazilian meetings on Bees, at Ribeirão Preto, S. Paulo University 1995-1997 Probral project (Capes-DAAD) with Tübingen University “Bees in Atlantic Rainforest: biology and products”. 1998-1999 Coordinator of Integrated Ecology Project (CNPq) on Stingless bees as pollinators: adaptations to subtropical conditions 1998 Member of organizing comitte of International workshop on bees as pollinators (Brazilian Environmental Ministry). After the meeting, co-editor of the book Bees as pollinators: a link between Agriculture and Conservation. 1998-2001 Scientific coordinator of research in tematic project (FAPESP): Social organization and reproductive patterns in stingless bees 1992-1995 Head of Ecology Department (IBUSP) 1995-1998 Vice-Director of Bioscinces Institute 1998-2000 Coordinator of the scientific project “Rearing of stingless bees as an activity of sustainable development in Brazilian caatinga” 2000 Member of Environmental Council from S. Paulo state Memberships International Union for the study of Social Insects Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia International Bee Research Association Editorial Board “Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment” Editorial Board “ Insectes Sociaux”