Use of Plant Resins for Defense and Nest Building in Stingless Bees

Abstract

Plant-derived resins play vital roles in the lives of stingless bees and are collected in large quantitiesby workers. They are a key component of different types of nest building materials and help beesdefend their nest against a wide range of threats. Mixing resin with wax creates a malleable andstrong material to build brood cells, storage pots and nest walls, while also providing antimicrobialproperties. These properties are crucial for life in a humid and hot tropical environment. In its pureform, resin can be used to build barriers against or to immobilize invading enemies, such as antsor robber bees. In this chapter we aim to bring together information about how stingless beesemploy resins in their everyday lives and discuss open questions and avenues for future research.