Kenya Stingless Bee

Meliponula bocandei

The largest of Kenya's stingless bee species, near the body size of Apis mellifera, native to indigenous forests such as Kakamega Forest and found more widely across tropical Africa. It is stingless, defending nests instead by biting, and builds nests using cerumen, a mix of wax and plant resin.

Species: Meliponini
Family: Apidae
Climate requirements: Restricted to humid tropical and forest-edge habitats with year-round floral diversity, making it best suited to Kenya's remaining indigenous rainforest and forest-margin farming zones rather than dry savanna. Colony survival depends heavily on proximity to intact forest for continuous forage and nesting resin sources.

Husbandry

Care & Economics

Husbandry guide: Kept in log hives or specially designed wooden box hives, often transferred from wild nests found in tree cavities; colonies are prone to absconding, so hives are sited in shaded, undisturbed forest-edge locations near water and diverse flowering trees. Reported honey yields are modest compared to Apis mellifera, roughly 10-15 kg per colony per season, harvested by carefully opening honey pots (not comb) with a knife or syringe rather than centrifuging. Because colonies are smaller and slower-growing than honey bee colonies, meliponiculture here emphasises low-input, conservation-linked management over intensive production.
Economic importance: Stingless bee honey commands a strong price premium in Kenyan markets due to its perceived medicinal value and use in traditional remedies, giving forest-adjacent smallholders an added income stream that also incentivises forest conservation.

Genetics

Breeds

No breeds recorded yet.

Animal health

Diseases

No diseases recorded yet.

Nutrition

Feeds

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Veterinary

Drugs & Medication

No drugs recorded yet.

Value chain

Products from this Animal

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Trade

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