Caracterización y ubicación geográfica de productores de abejas nativas sin aguijón (Apidae : Meliponinae) de El Salvador

Abstract

This research consisted of the characterization and geographical location of the producers of native stingless bees in four regions of El Salvador: Western, Central, Paracentral and Eastern. A stratified sample that was non probabilistic was used, as well as a closed survey of up to 149 families (n=149) that keep stingless bees. The field work began in January 2005 and finished in June 2007. GPS and ArcGIS 9.0 software were used to get the maps of the distribution of farmers. The management applied for stingless beekeepers are deficient, because just 27.52% check periodically inside the beehive, 16.11% feed theirs colonies in raining season, 19.46 % knows multiply colonies, 43.62% harvest one time per year, 23.49% harvest more than one time per year and 32.89% do not report harvest frequency. The species of stingless bees that was most cultivated was “Jicota” (Melipona beecheii), followed by “Chumelo” (Tetragonisca angustula) and “Zarquita” (Nannotrigona testaceicornis). The national average of honey production per colony and year for Melipona beecheii and Tetragonisca angustula was 2.17±1.41and 0.33±0.19 liters, respectively. Honey of both species was used for medicinal purposes (to heal wounds, antibiotic, etc.). The majority of the farmers were located in the Central region (North of Chalatenango, El Salvador), followed by the Western (Santa Ana, El Salvador), Eastern and Paracentral region. The development of meliponiculture depends on the conservation of trees as a food resource as well as nesting. Also, it is important improve the practices of management and marketing that is applied by the stingless beekeepers