Efrain Cab, rescuing Mayan stingless bees, one hive at a time
July 15, 2020 9:12 PM   Subscribe

There are around 500 species of Meliponini stingless bees (Wikipedia), which are found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. 47 live in Mexico, and the most famous bee in the Yucatán peninsula is Melipona beecheii (Apicultura fandom in Spanish, Google auto-translate), known by the Mayans as Xunan Kab, or the Regal Lady Bee. The hives of these and other bees are more frequently found in urban areas, including homes and businesses, in Playa del Carmen. Enter Efrain Cab, third generation bee keeper and the protector of Mexico’s hidden hives of stingless bees (Atlas Obscura).

You can also find local coverage of Cab's work in Spanish from Novedades Quintana Roo (in English with Google auto-translate), from 2016 when he was two years into rescuing hives.

For more on the past and current bee keeping practices with Melipona beecheii, here's a 27 minute documentary in Spanish, with half-decent auto-translated subtitles: Xunan Kab - Abeja del Pueblo Maya (Bee of the Mayan People).

See also: Ancient Maya Beekeeping, a relatively short article in English from Thought Co.
posted by filthy light thief (2 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Dammit, 30 years too late to use on the person who hazed me with, “What kind of bee ain’t got no sting...a newbie!” Actually, just not having to speak to that moron for 28 years is reward enough. Responding with, “Why Melipona Beecheii, of course, you vacuous turd,” would have been good to at least have in the back pocket.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:32 PM on July 15, 2020 [2 favorites]


Were these the bees on Salt Fat Acid Heat?
posted by Chrysostom at 9:36 PM on July 15, 2020 [3 favorites]


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