RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ethnobiology and Conservation 2019, 8:11 (30 August 2019) doi:10.15451/ec2019-08-8.11-1-18 ISSN 2238­4782 ethnobioconservation.com The honey of Plebeia molesta and other melliferous insects in the peasant culture of the Northwest of Córdoba, Argentina Melisa Gabriela Geisa1* tand Norma Inés Hilgert2t

ABSTRACT

Bees called meliponas (family Apidae, tribe Meliponini) are native stingless bees (ANSA) whose products (honey and other elements from the hive) have been employed by various indigenous and peasant cultures since ancient times. This study lists the native honeybee species known to criollos from northwest Córdoba. It also analyzes in particular the relationship between peasants living in three different environments in the region and the uses they assign to Plebeia molesta honey. Semi­structured interviews were conducted with 42 key interlocutors. To analyze the obtained information qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Local people recognize 4 native melliferous insects, being the one called “quella” the most important. Its honey is used mainly for medicinal purposes and as food. The predominant use as medicine is ingestion in pure form (45%) and the most frequently treated conditions are those related to the respiratory system (88.53%). In relation to the changes perceived in the availability of this resource, 75% of the interlocutors considered that the frequency of nest encounters has decreased in the last decades. The assigned uses of honey show a high variability in relation to the socio­cultural and occupational characteristics of the inhabitants. It is concluded that this honey is a valuable resource for farmers in the region. Given the perceived decrease of these populations, management and conservation strategies should be implemented that, incorporating the peasant point of view, guarantee their accessibility and perpetuity.

Keywords: Native Stingless Bee; Dry Chaco; Ethnobiology; Criollos; Meliponas.

1 Instituto de Antropología de Córdoba (IDACOR), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba – CONICET. Hipólito Irigoyen 174, Córdoba, Argentina. CP 5000.

2 Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones – CONICET. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, UNaM. Asoc. Civil CeIBA. Bertoni 85, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. CP 3370.

* Corresponding author. E­mail address: MGG ([email protected]), NIH ([email protected])

INTRODUCTION behaviors, and eusocial behavior has been observed in some taxa (Nieves­Aldrey et al. The origin of hymenoptera in the 2006). Meliponas or meliponid bees, highly Neotropics dates back 220 to 300 million social stingless bees belonging to the Apidae years resulting in a group of insects adapted Family are comprise in this group (Michener to different environments. Their capacities 2007). According to their location and have been associated with complex morphology, these bees form permanent

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colonies and build diverse types of nests, (with 11.6%), Paraguay (25.4%), Brazil which can be found in tree holes, in the (0.8%) and Argentina (62.2%) (The Nature ground, hanging, in living trunks, in building Conservancy et al. 2005). It houses about 20 constructions­like the interstices of hollow species of honeybee hymenoptera, including bricks or between the stones of pircas­or bees with and without stings and wasps walls­ (Álvarez et al. 2016; Arenas 2003). (Kamienkowski and Arenas 2012). The state Taking into account recent descriptions of conservation of this biome in the Province (Álvarez et al. 2016), in Argentina there are of Córdoba (Argentina) shows a wide 34 species of native stingless bees (ANSA) gradient which ranges from areas of well­ grouped into 18 genera. Plebeia is one of preserved natural vegetation, plots of the most diverse genera, currently intermediate use for livestock and areas of represented in the country by six species, intensive agricultural use with marked two of which reach the southernmost alteration of vegetation and soil (Tapella distribution of the tribe in the Neotropics 2012). In recent years, the process of (Roig Alsina et al. 2013). In particular, agriculturization has been increasing to the Plebeia catamarcensis (Holmberg 1903) and detriment of livestock production, mainly for P. molesta (Puls 1868) are cited for the the cultivation of soybean (Silvetti 2010). province of Córdoba (Argentina), although it The advance of the agricultural frontier is possible that at least one other species affected the surface of native forests, being inhabits the region. the vegetation of the Chaco forest the most Bees are recognized worldwide for their disturbed. This process of degradation of pollination services linked to the production native forests is accompanied by a drastic of food on a global scale. In some countries reduction of local biodiversity as well as of they have been declared the most important the benefits these ecosystems provide. At living species on the planet due to its direct the same time it has influenced the contribution to the maintenance and perception, valuation and preservation of perpetuity of biodiversity (ICI Forestal 2018). environmental and socio­cultural services by About 80% of the species of flowering plants the different actors in the region (Tapella depend on zoo­pollination and at least 35% 2012) resulting in changes in the ways of life of the world agricultural production is of the peoples who have inhabited the place pollinated by bees, birds and bats, since ancient times (Bertonatti 2017). increasing the yield of 87 of the world main According to Soldati (2015) the crops according to FAO (2018). In contrast, transmission of knowledge is one of the in recent years there has been concern elementary processes in cultural evolution about the decrease in populations of honey and in the relationship between people and bees as well as those of other wild their understanding of nature. Pursuant to pollinators associated with changes in land this concept, in each innovation event, new use and the incorporation of agrochemicals information would be selected, creating (EFE 2016; IPBES 2016; UICN 2016; Lázaro adapted knowledge and enabling an and Tur 2018). effective process from an evolutionary point The Gran Chaco constitutes a of view. In studies carried out in neighboring phytogeographic unit located on a wide regions, different factors were identified as sedimentary plain of approximately modelling the response of the population to 1,066,000 km2, distributed between Bolivia environmental changes. Age, sex, economic

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activity and education appear as important; criollos and colonists) has been cited in as well as idiosyncratic characteristics, works analyzing the material and symbolic family traditions, access to health services importance of these insects and their and changes in lifestyle (Arias Toledo 2009; products in the medicine and nutrition of Arias Toledo et al. 2010; Furlan et al. 2011; different populations at present and in past Martínez and Luján 2011; Trillo et al. 2007). times (Arenas 2003; Baquero and Stamatti In the study of some resources in particular, 2007; Flores et al. 2018; INTA 2014; geographic isolation was also reported as Kamienkowski and Arenas 2012; Kujawska one of the contributing factors to the et al. 2012; Loiácono et al. 2016; Martínez conservation of practices and uses (Hilgert 2010; Medrano and Rosso 2010; Puigrós and Gil 2006). 2006; Suriano and Lobato 2013; Torres et In this dynamic context, ethnobiology as a al.1998; Vitar 2000; Zamudio et al. 2010; branch of science that analyzes how human Zamudio 2011; Zamudio and Hilgert 2011, beings interact with the environment (Posey 2012, 2017). However, data on the uses 1987a, b; Toledo et al. 1995) is a very useful assigned to Plebeia genus is scarce. For tool. From a socio­ecological approach, Córdoba, the available information comes ethnobiological studies can establish the only from historical and literary sources. basis for a rational management of biological Records of native honey bee uses appear in resources and the design of local documents that show the importance of this development strategies that contribute to the resource in terms of exchange and its use in conservation of regional biodiversity (De the culture of native peoples (Serrano 1945; Albuquerque 1999). Studying the Stagnaro 2016). Besides, testimonies perceptions, valuations and knowledge of documenting the oral tradition of the peoples the populations on their surroundings and in the north of the province have recorded the resources available, ethnobiology allows the use of "stick honey" made by meliponas to put in dialogue different epistemologies to for medicinal and nutritional purposes search together solutions to current (Colectivo Relatos del Viento 2010; Rionda problems that threaten the integrity of Cortina and Rosalia 2015). ecosystems and cultures (Argueta Villamar In the present work, we analize stingless et al. 2018; Avendaño 2010; Gudynas 2011). bees and other melliferous insects As part of the corpus, different species are recognized by local inhabitants and categorized and named according to registered the names assigned to them. In a perception, relationship and meaning in the second stage, different aspects are analyzed local community (Hilgert 2007). Thus, the in depth in relation to the species most registration of local nomenclature provides frequently cited, Plebeia molesta. The valuable information for studies that, based objectives of this study were: 1) to recognize on the analysis of folk systematics (also the proportion of young adults and older called ethnotaxonomy), elucidate the cultural adults identified as key interlocutors, 2) to significance of the different biological identify the list of known native melliferous groups, taking into account the descriptive or insects and the names assigned to the explanatory power of given names (Berlin among residents of three different 1992; Cotton 1996). environments in northwest Córdoba. In In our country, the use of ANSA honeys relation to Plebeia molesta: 3) to survey and different social groups (indigenous peoples, compare the local uses of honey and 4) to

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inquire about the perception of changes in loss in the province was concentrated in the abundance over time. Currently, the north­northwest arch (Agost 2017). scientific paradigm of broad perspective on In the work area there are three natural the contribution nature makes to people´s environments, with different present quality of life is increasingly accepted (Díaz vegetation, climate, soils and relief: Serrano et al. 2018). From this perspective, the Forest, Western or Plain Chaco Forest and question guiding the analysis of Plebeia the Salinas Coast. Between 500 and 1,300 molesta considers the relationship between m.s.n.m. the Serrano Forest is established the uses assigned to its honeys and its with the presence of "molle" (Lithraea consumers, among which different socio­ molleoides (Vell.) Engl., Anacardiaceae), cultural characteristics1 can be observed. "horco quebracho" (Schinopsis lorentzii We expect to find similar uses among people (Griseb.) Engl., Anacardiaceae), "apple tree who: a) live in the same environment, b: are of the field" (Ruprechtia apetala Wedd., more related to each other (defined as Polygonaceae) and "piquillin" (Condalia labour or family associations) and c: whose spp., Rhamnaceae) as characteristic main productive activities encourage a species. In a decreasing altitudinal gradient, similar link with the natural environments the Western or Plain Chaco Forest shows where they live. plants adapted to xerophytic environments, such as "white quebracho" (Aspidosperma MATERIAL AND METHODS quebracho­blanco Schltdl., Apocynaceae) ­arboreal dominant species ­, "algarrobo" The Northwest region of the Province of (Prosopis spp., Fabaceae), "mistol" Córdoba is included in the natural region of (Sarcomphalus mistol (Griseb.) the Dry Chaco of Argentina (Morello et al. Hauenschild., Rhamnaceae) and shrubs 2012), characterized by having large such as "jarilla" (Larrea divaricata Cav., seasonal and daily thermal amplitudes, with Zygophyllaceae) and "garabatos" (Vachellia an average of 26º C in summer and 16º C in spp., Fabaceae). The terrain then turns in to winter. According to Tálamo (2006), it is in the Salinas Coast, a plain forest in transition this environment where the highest absolute with halophytic plants, which, as they temperatures of South America are approach the salt itself form a scrub or recorded, with very hot summers but with perisaline shrub with species capable of frequent frosts during the winter months (up resisting, tolerating or regulating the excess to 10 per winter). The annual average of of salt, commonly succulent, with small precipitations is 300 mm, distributed in two leaves, or without them and of marked seasons, a dry one from April to September xerophytic aspect (Cosa and Dottori 2010) and a humid one­which concentrates 80% of like "palta" (Maytenus vitis­idaea Griseb., rains­ from October to March (Morello et al. Celastraceae), "rodajillo" (Plectrocarpa 2012). A decade ago, the original forest tetracantha Gillies ex Hook. & Arn., remnant was estimated at around 5% Zygophyllaceae), among others, "deer (Barchuk et al. 2009); given the continuous grass" (Lippia salsa Griseb., Verbenaceae), process of clearance, it is likely that these species of Lycium spp. (Solanaceae), "palo values overestimate the current situation. azul" (Cyclolepis genistoides Gillies ex D. Between 2000 and 2015, 80% (more than Don, Asteraceae), "vinagrillo" (Grahamia 130 thousand hectares) of the tree cover bracteata Hook. & Arn.,

1 Defined as the place of life, degree of isolation, link with the resource, parental­labour link between residents and occupation (main productive activities)

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Anacampserotaceae), different species of "criollos" or "peasants" given that they are the family Cactaceae as "cardón" (Stetsonia the names most commonly used by them coryne (Salm­Dyck) Britton & Rose), and and include the inhabitants of all the various Quenopodiaceae ("jumes" and mentioned conditions. "cachiyuyos") such as Allenrolfea patagonica Within the three environments described (Moq.) Kuntze, Suaeda divaricada Moq., above, rural locations in sites with native Heterostachys ritteriana (Moq.) Ung.­ forest in a good state of conservation were Sternb., and Atriplex argentina Speg., selected, within or close to provincial among others. For the nomenclature of the protected natural areas, within the vegetation characteristic of each Departments Cruz del Eje, Minas, Pocho, environment, we used the catalog of San Javier and Ischilín (Figure 1). vascular plants of the Instituto de Botánica Rural domestic units were selected in the Darwinion (2018). three environments in sectors in a good The work area is inhabited by peasant state of conservation (in relation to the communities that maintain a diversified use regional landscape matrix). To define a of the native forest with management domestic unit (sampling unit in this study) we practices and production of old local followed Harris (1986), who considers it as trajectory; they generally own the land and an institution formed by a group of people are small or medium­sized livestock who co­reside in the same dwelling, which producers dedicated to raising goats, cows, do not necessarily have genealogical horses, pigs and sheep (in that order of kinship, but make up the economic, prevalence) (Sánchez 2013). They have residence and / or reproductive unit. Within been characterized as "criollos": people of each domestic unit, we worked with Spanish­aboriginal mestizo roots who are interlocutors identified as responsible for the descendants from native people, administration of honey ­ or who maintain a Comechingones and Sanavirones, and from greater contact and interest in this resource ­ immigrants who arrived to the region after who were born in the place or have lived in the Spanish conquest (Grimaldi and Trillo the area 20 or more years. The visits were 2018; Trillo et al. 2014, 2016; Trillo 2016; made between 2015 and 2017. For the Trillo and Audisio 2018). Part of the local identification of new domestic units we used inhabitants involved in this study gather in the snowball technique (Bernard 2000). At native communities registered in the Instituto the beginning of the activities, written Nacional de Asuntos Indígenas (Res. N° informed consent was obtained from all 115/2012 – Ministerio de Desarrollo Social those involved in the consultations and visits de la Nación Argentina, access 05/2018). according to the established norms (Cano Likewise, another part of the population is Contreras et al. 2015; ISE 2006). We part of the Movimiento Campesino de interviewed 42 people of both sexes aged 19 Córdoba; a group of 600 families of rural to 80 living in the three types of producers whose mission is to claim rural environments (15 in the Serrano Forest, 11 production and peasant life, guarantee in Salinas Coast and 16 in the Plain Forest), access to resources, health, education and 14% of the interviewees were young adults the right to land (Movimiento Nacional under 35 years of age. Campesino Indígena 2010). For the Semi­structured interviews on topics purposes of this study, will be referred to as related to known native melliferous insects

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Figure 1. Study area. Locations visited in each environmental zone according to the Áreas Naturales Protegidas de la Provincia de Córdoba (Protected Natural Areas). The present tree cover (green) and its loss between 2001­2015 (red). and their assigned names were carried out. • Link between residents (family or The talk was deepened in the case of the labour) species with the greatest number of reports • Main productive activities to find out the local uses of honey and • Environment where the domestic unit is different ways of preparation and located. administration. Likewise, questions were included on the perception of changes in the In the company of the peasants, we distribution and abundance of nests over searched for natural nests of native stingless time as well as factors associated with these bees and took samples of their honeys and changes. To compare the local uses of insects (the latter were kept in alcohol and honey and the sociocultural and identified by Dr. L. Álvarez in División de occupational characteristics, the following Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias variables were considered: Naturales y Museo, UNLP (Buenos Aires, • Degree of isolation: distance to urban Argentina). The other melliferous insects centers, roads condition throughout the year, mentioned by the inhabitants were observed means of mobility of the inhabitants in the field and determined at species level (automobile, motorcycle, animal or by means of the Moure´s Bee Catalogue pedestrian), presence of public transport (2018) and the Systematic List of Insects of • Age of the interlocutors Argentina from EcoRegistros (2018). We • Link with the resource: the way of took samples of bees and honey from 54 obtaining it, the assigned use and the way of wild nests. For the purposes of this study, we preparation and application. considered "wild honeys" those produced by

6 Geisa and Hilgert 2019. The honey of Plebeia molesta and other melliferous insects in the peasant culture of the Northwest of Córdoba, Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 8:11 native insects, including different types of RESULTS hymenoptera (wasps, bumblebees, and stingless bees). Native melliferous insects Of the aforementioned variables, we recognized in the region evaluated the relationship between the degree of isolation, link with the resource, The villagers recognized 4 types of wild main productive activity and environment. A honeys produced by native Hymenoptera Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) insects (Table 1), being that of Plebeia was carried out in the R software with the molesta the most cited and valued; they FactoMineR package. The MCA analysis is known it locally as "pink honey", "stick useful to describe the factors that contribute honey" or "little bee honey". Except on two most to explaining the total variability. The occasions, this is the only wild honey to technique objective is to summarize a large which medicinal properties are attributed amount of data in a reduced number of and, at the same time, it is preferred as food dimensions, with the least possible loss of due to its flavor. It was often described as information applied to categorical or ordinal "the best” or “the richest of all." In some variables (Algañaraz Soria 2014). We also cases its medicinal qualities were compared analyzed the proportion or frequency of to those of the honey of Apis mellifera and citations of the use of honey, wealth of highlighted that the honey of "quella" is medicinal uses, mode of medicinal use and better. In some houses, we observed bottles perception of the change in nests density of pink honey harvested 5 years before. In over time. Finally, to compare the medicinal all cases its storage was explained as good uses registered among the inhabitants of the to have it at hand to use it on unexpected three environments, we used the Sorensen occasions. In 15% of the interviews, two Similarity Index (1948) as follows: CN = 2 morphs of "quella" were mentioned, taking (jN) / aN + bN. Where aN = the number of into account differences in the size of the modes of medicinal use mentioned by group individuals. Only in 2 interviews do the A, bN = the number of modes of medicinal interlocutors considered that they could use mentioned by group B, jN = number of correspond to two different species given modes of use cited in both groups. that they are not observed sharing spaces but that each one is found in different localities.

Table 1. Native insects recognized as honey producers.

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Local uses of Plebeia molesta honey according to the environment (Figure 3). According to the Sorensen Similarity Index (Figure 4) a greater similarity is observed According to the frequency of citations between the domestic units located in the obtained in the interviews conducted in the Plain Forest and the Salinas Coast (90%). three environments as a whole, the use of Among the inhabitants of the Serrano quella honey is destined exclusively to Forest, we found 3 of the 7 different ways of medicinal purposes by 31%; 45% of the registered medicinal uses, with a domestic units visited mention its use for predominant use of pure form without medicinal and nutritional purposes; 21% only combinations or previous preparations, with use it for food and 3% keep hives in rustic salt in second place and with donkey milk boxes or guard wild colonies with a symbolic registered in a single appointment. value (following a legacy of their parents, The most valuable uses of pink honey in because its presence in the domestic the Northwest of Córdoba is mainly related environment promotes good fortune and / or to respiratory ailments (88.53%: 54 the proliferation of domestic animals). citations), followed by eye, digestive and Regarding the uses of honey for immunological disorders; it is also assigned medicinal purposes, it was recorded that nutraceutical properties (consume for 45% of the inhabitants use honey in a pure prevention of diseases and as an energizing form without combinations or prior functional food) (Table 2). preparations. In a smaller proportion, they use honey with salt, lemon, in an infusion of "atamisqui" (Atamisquea emarginata Miers ex Hook. & Arn, Capparaceae) ­which is also valued as a medicinal plant used for respiratory diseases­, with oil, sugar or donkey milk (Figure 2). The modes of medicinal use and combinations with different elements change

Figure 3. Modes of use of the "quella honey" (A) and methods of application for medicinal purposes (B) according to the environment. Figure 2. Modes of application for medicinal purposes.

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Figure 4. Similarity between environments, in the mode of application of honey for medicinal purposes according to the Sorensen Index. SC: Salinas Coast, PF: Plain Forest, SF: Serrano Forest.

Table 2. Medical use of native stingless bee honey in the Northwest of Córdoba.

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In relation to the sensorial evaluation of good state of conservation, such as places honey, in general the peasants consider that where strong nests can be found and where it could change its characteristics according they can spread. 10% of the interviewees to the flowers the bee visits to produce it. are mentions of the occurrence of changes However, they claim that it usually has the and 15% enunciate that there was no same reddish color ­ hence its vulgar name decrease or increase in the density of nests of pink honey. Only some peasants mention located in mature forests in the last 30 or 40 that the taste of honey can differ according years (Figure 5). to the species of plant (tree or cactus) in which the nest is lodged or the area of the forest in which the nest is located. They describe its taste and consistency as very sweet and smooth with fluid texture. Some expressions about its taste were: "honey is delicious", "I would give anything to eat that honey again", "it is the richest of all honeys". Regarding the influence of cultural variables evaluated in the knowledge and medicinal uses of "quella" honey in the MCA analysis, a high variability of the information Figure 5. Decrease in the density of nests of is observed. Occupation, distance to the Plebeia molesta over time, according the nearest urban center and type of villagers. environment are the factors that contribute the most to explain the variability of the data, Some interlocutors mentioned the high within a 21.55% of the total inertia, reached abundance of meliponas while doing their by dimension 1 and 2. If we considered up to work in the forest in the past (extraction of dimension 5, occupation would be the trees for use of firewood and charcoal) and variable that best explains the differences the inconvenience they caused as they are within 42.62% respectively. attracted to human sweat: "In time of the obraje there were so many (the bees that Perception of changes in the approached) that at the time of eating (when abundance of wild nests of Plebeia they made a break for lunch), we put a sheet molesta over our face and body so they did not bother us. At night we went out to burn some About the perception of the density of wild nests ­which we had marked during the day­ colonies in the territory, 75% of the to work more comfortably the following day. interviewees considered that the frequency In this field there were many nests, because of encounter of nests in the forest decreased there was a lot of mature forest and lots of considerably in the last three decades, tentitaco (Prosopis torquata (Lag.) DC.)" attributing as the main cause, clearance and (AC, Cachiyuyo, 41 years old, 09/28/2017). change of land use. Linked to this, they Finally, it was identified that 29% of the identified the Protected Natural Areas and a interviewees have, or had at some time, property close to the Salinas that is hives in rustic boxes, in turn 71% want to characterized by having mature forest in a learn how to handle and divide hives of

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native stingless bees, in order to obtain characteristics of rural people intervene in honey and other products mainly for family very different ways in the relationship of consumption. This interest in domestic people with the uses assigned to "quella" breeding is generally explained as a way to honey. The factors that could model this stock up on pink honey without having to cut process are varied and intermingled without or damage forest trees or bee colonies. In responding to the particular qualities of the the interviews done, the villagers do not users. Therefore, future in depth studies show any negative opinion about learning should elucidate if any of these factors fulfill how to manage Plebeia molesta. a preponderant modeling role. Contrasted appreciations over time reflect In future work, it is interesting to deepen the valuation peasants currently make of this the analysis of the possible factors that resource. Decades ago, the "quella" was influence the high variability of the results considered such an annoying insect during obtained, poor consensus of the population work in the bush, that nests were removed about the cultural knowledge of stingless only with the purpose of diminishing its bees honey and the low proportion of abundance in the workplace. Currently, this respondents under 35 years of age (14%) perception has changed towards a high referenced as key interlocutors. interest in having hives at home, learn about In relation to the importance of these the management of the colonies and be able insects, there are indications that in to harvest honey without damaging the nest; prehispanic times many indigenous cultures going to the extent of recognizing nearby of South and Central America used stingless sites with mature forest that can "provide bees honey, wax and pollen (Baquero and mother nests", among which the Protected Stamatti 2007). The honey of "quella" does Natural Areas are identified. not have any economic importance as that of other genera in the north of the country DISCUSSION (Tetragonisca, Trigona and Melipona). However, it is attributed the highest In the present work the presence of symbolic, culinary and medicinal values in Plebeia molesta in the northwest of the the culture of Córdoba compared to other Province of Córdoba is confirmed, consistent honeys produced by native hymenoptera with the unique ethnospecies of native recognized in the region. A similar stingless bee rural inhabitants identified. assessment was made for other Plebeia Regarding the two morphotypes recognized species in the Yungas of northern Salta, by some farmers, it is not ruled out that they where the diversity of melliferous insects is could correspond to two different species of represented by 15 ethnospecies (Flores et Plebeia, since P. molesta and P. al. 2018), much more numerous than that catamarcensis are cited for Córdoba; even recorded in this study. more, if it is considered that this genus has Multiple names are given tor Plebeia hardly been studied in detail, as evidenced molesta and some could be related to by the recent discovery of the Plebeia linguistic systems typical of native peoples of guazurary species in the Argentine the region. In different dialects of Quechua, Northeast (Álvarez et al. 2016). "qhilla, qilla, qella, q'ella, qhella" refer to The findings of this work show that the adjectives as lazy and idle (Katari.org 2017; socio­cultural and occupational Runasimi.org 2017; Tierra­Inca.com 2017).

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These words related to the nickname testimonies of the use of this honey as a "quella" that the criollos currently use are home remedy: "The honey of the "panelists" linked to the descriptions of this bee bees, which are the "little bees", is good for behavior: "they leave later than the Apis", "if convulsive cough and for asthmatics" related it's cold they do not come out", "they make a resident of Villa Quilino (CEF, 41 years old, little honey". 04/10/2010) according to the Colectivo The relationship of a society with wildlife Relatos del Viento (2010). "People used the exposes different dimensions, some subtle arrope (of honey) of the "little bee as and others more obvious (Camino et al. remedy", for children, for sore throat (...)" 2018). The relationship of the peasant (MG, Tuclame, 94 years old, 07/26/2012) culture of the Dry Chaco of Córdoba with the expressed in Rionda Cortina and Rosalía honey of "quella" shows both; on the one (2015). These narrations expose the hand, it is a tangible, concrete link ­ the use medicinal value attributed to the honey of of the resource as a source of medicine and "quella" in Córdoba, its application in pure food ­ and at the same time it is symbolic, state without mixtures and above the food and more difficult to detect, such as breeding use, of which no outstanding findings were or preserving the insects in specific places found. (Eg: yard posts) or boxes that belonged to a The predominant form of medicinal close relative. This within the paradigm application is the consumption of pure "Contributions of nature to people (NPC)” honey; probably because the villagers would represent two of the three recognized attribute this form a heightening effect to this dimensions (Díaz et al., 2018): one related way of administration, so it would not be to material contributions and another related necessary to mix it with other components to to non­material contributions. According to achieve better results. This use is distinctive the authors, we hope that the deepening of to the predominant use in combinations with the studies from the NPC approach could medicinal herbs registered in Misiones with increase the environmental governance and the honey of Tetragonisca fiebrigii (Zamudio the associated policies that will be applied in and Hilgert 2011), and in Salta with honey of the territory. Plebeia nov. sp. (Flores et al. 2018). In Regarding the use of "quella" honey, general, the uses, knowledge and obtention some of the forms of consumption and of "quella" honey are related to the treatment of illnesses cited in this study occupation of the inhabitants, the place coincide with those registered in northern where they live (environment) and the Argentina for honeys from different ANSA distance to urban centers where all basic species (Flores et al. 2018; Zamudio 2011). services are offered (including basic health Specifically, the preponderant use of this services), as evidenced by the MCA honey as a medicine has been recorded analysis. However, the variability of the similarly for other honeys of melipónides in results was high, and it promotes paying the Brazilian Amazon, where some attention in future works to other factors that indigenous groups use it only as a remedy, may be intervening in the transmission and without consuming it daily as a food maintenance of cultural knowledge about supplement as indicated in other cases native bees and their honey. For example, (Ferrufino Arnéz and Aguilera Peralta 2004). this honey is not the only resource of the In the north of Córdoba, there are native forest used by the farmers of the

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region for medicinal purposes (Arias Toledo honey in the inhabitants´ houses, their 2009; Arias Toledo et al. 2010; Furlan et al. access to the resource and their interest in 2011; Trillo et al. 2014; Trillo and Audisio keeping it available is related to the 2018; Martínez and Luján 2011) which may possibility of achieving better health influence the lack of consensus and the high conditions, therefore, better living conditions, variability observed. coinciding with the fact that the domestic Finally, 75% of the people interviewed units visited are located in places where perceive that the density of meliponas nests health care centers are absent and / or visits has decreased considerably from 30 to 40 by health professionals are very sporadic. years ago and relate this phenomenon to the This is consistent with the idea of Tapella destruction of native forests and the (2012) that explains the preservation of expansion of agriculture and livestock Ecosystem Services as an unavoidable breeding. This coincides with that stated by condition for social survival of small Baquero and Stamatti (2007) and the high producers. Implementing strategies of rates of deforestation of the departments of management and conservation of this ANSA, the northwest arch of Córdoba, which in turn with the purpose of guaranteeing this present the greatest losses of native forests common good for the members of their close compared to the other provincial social circle, could be widely accepted by departments (Agost 2017). local peasants. In addition to clearance and other changes in land use, the way of extracting CONCLUSIONS nests that they have practiced since ancient times is also recognized as an unsustainable The management of beehives of "quella" practice since hives die in most cases and the quality of their honey are research because the colony cannot rebuild the open axes that should be deepened in order to nest. In this way, overexploitation combined provide tools that can contribute to local with the high rate of deforestation of the Dry work on the use and conservation of native Chaco of Córdoba, has implied an stingless bees and the autochthonous acceleration in the reduction of wildlife forests of the northwest of Córdoba. species and threatened the cultures that Complementary research and depend on them, as recorded in other areas interdisciplinary work are required to define of the dry Argentine Chaco (Camino et al. conservation strategies taking into account 2018). The use of nest traps (Gennari 2019) the perceptions and the traditional ecological to obtain a swarming wild colony and the knowledge (TEK) of the populations living division of hives in technified boxes inside Protected Natural Areas or their zone (Baquero and Stamatti 2007) are practices of influence. This knowledge should be that are being developed in Argentina and considered so that measures result efficient Latin America, since they allow to increase when implemented in the territory. At the and / or maintain a meliponary for harvesting same time it should allow to reforcing the honey and other products from native bees capacity of societies to manage natural without pressing on the hives that inhabit the resources, especially in changing conditions native forest, or damaging the host plants. or uncertain contexts (Camino et al. 2018; From the information obtained in this Manfredo and Dayer 2004; Reyes­García work, it is interpreted that the conservation of 2009; St John et al. 2011).

13 Geisa and Hilgert 2019. The honey of Plebeia molesta and other melliferous insects in the peasant culture of the Northwest of Córdoba, Argentina Ethnobio Conserv 8:11

For the peasants, it is clear that the that this article can be concretized and to the possibility of finding a nest in the forest rural inhabitants of the Cordovan northwest decreased considerably in recent decades, by sharing their knowledge. that the honey of “quella” is a valuable resource for the health of the domestic unit REFERENCES and a favorite food with respect to other honeys. They also agree that the most Agost L (2017) Avances de las Fronteras sustainable way of obtaining this resource is Agropecuarias. [http://montesdecordoba.org/factores/avance­de­ to handle Plebeia molesta in adapted boxes. las­fronteras­agropecuarias] Accessed 14 August These concepts are fundamental axes that 2018. will benefit the actions of preservation, Algañaraz Soria VH (2014) El “Análisis de protection and conservation of the ANSA in Correspondencias Múltiples”, una Córdoba. herramienta metodológica de síntesis teórica Future work related to quella honey, y empírica. Memoria Académica. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación. stingless bees and the native forests of Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Argentina. Córdoba should contribute to the Álvarez LJ, Rasmussen C, Abrahamovich AH appreciation and continuity of local cultures, (2016) Nueva especie de Plebeia Schwarz, and the development of diversified and clave para las especies argentinas de Plebeia sustainable production systems suited to the y comentarios sobre Plectoplebeia en la Argentina (Hymenoptera: Meliponini). Rev. Dry Chaco in the province. Mus. Argentino Cienc. Nat. 18(1): 65­74 ACKNOWLEDGMENT Arenas P (2003) Etnografía y alimentación entre los Toba­Ñachilamoleek y Wichí­ Lhuku’tas del Chaco Central: Argentina. 1ed. The authors thank the Universidad Pastor Arenas, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Nacional de Córdoba, the Consejo Nacional Argueta Villamar A, Sanabria Diago OL, Cano de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Contreras EJ, Medinaceli A (2018) Código de (CONICET) and the Universidad Nacional de ética para la investigación etnobiológica en América Latina. Ethnoscientia. 3 (2). Misiones for the support to the PhD in Biological Sciences of the first author. They Arias Toledo B (2009) Diversidad de usos, prácticas de recolección y diferencias según also thank the Secretaría de Políticas género y edad en el uso de plantas Universitarias del Ministerio de Educación medicinales en Córdoba, Argentina. Boletín de la Nación for the financing granted to the Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Project PCESU9­UNCOR1110 ­ Medicinales y Aromáticas. 8 (5): 389 – 401. Meliponiculture in Córdoba. We thank the Arias Toledo B, Trillo C, Grilli M (2010) Uso de plantas medicinales en relación al estado de Dirección de Áreas Naturales Protegidas de conservación del bosque en Córdoba, la Secretaría de Ambiente y Cambio Argentina. Ecología Austral 20:235­246. Climático de la Provincia de Córdoba for Avendaño O (2010) El buen vivir. Una vía para authorizing field work in protected natural el desarrollo. Alberto Acosta y Esperanza areas and surroundings, to the Gdpque. Martínez (comp.) Polis, Revista de la Nicolás Maldonado and especially the Universidad Bolivariana. 9 (25): 557­561. Gdpque. Eduardo Martínez for his technical Baquero L, Stamatti G (2007) Cría y Manejo de assistance in the field works and the Abejas sin aguijón. Ediciones del Subtrópico, Tucumán, Argentina. permanent collaboration in this study. We are grateful to Dr. Lisandro Agost and Dr. Federico Sasatornil for their collaboration so

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Received: 26 January 2019 Accepted: 30 April 2019 Published: 30 August 2019

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