The document summarizes research conducted on stingless bees in the Bicol region of the Philippines. The key findings are: 1) Stingless bee colonies were found in 20 barangays across 6 provinces in Bicol, with species including Tetragonula biroi and Tetragonula sapiens. Colonies were observed nesting in trees like coconut, seo, and narra. 2) Pollen sources for the bees were identified at 13 meliponaries, including 88 plant species like coconut, banana, avocado, and rambutan. 3) Bees showed high pollination efficiency of 96.88% for pigeon pea flowers when 15 bees were c

1. DA-BAR Inn-House Seminar Series
May 24, 2018 , 1 :00 -4 :00 pm BAR Annex Bldg. Elliptical Road corner Visayas Ave.,
Diliman, Quezon City.

2. * Technology developed in Bicol in 2003 by Mostoles, Ruiz
and Palconitin- Meliponiculture: A Grassroots Technology, the
science and art of keeping stingless bees in halved coconut
shells .
* Meliponines- the name given to stingless bee with local
names such as lukot, kalulot, kiwot, teg-teg, libog
* Five species of stingless bees identified in the Philippines by
Baltazar in 1966.
* For the past 12 years, commercial production of T. biroi
mushroomed in the region, with no less than 20 meliponaries
established. However, only a few sustained the industry due to
abiotic and biotic constraints.

3. * Availability of the feral colonies in some areas have been
done and the species identified.
* Morphological analysis of stingless bees collected from the
Bicol provinces was carried out by Nicolas in 2008 with 8
species ; in 2013 Nicolas reported 15 species in the Philippines
(5 old record, 8 new record and new species, 2 new record )
* Most popularly cultured in Bicol is the Tetragonula biroi Freise
, which has already been domesticated leading to the creation
of meliponaries.
Iridipennis group
Tetragonula clypearis Freise
Tetragonula fuscobalteata Cameron
Tetragonula baltazarae sp.nov.
Carbonaria group
Tetragonula biroi Freise
Tetragonula benguetensis sp.nov.
Tetragonula dulceae sp. nov.
Laeviceps group
Tetragonula sapiens Cockerell
Tetragonula laeviceps
Tetragonula globosa
Tetragonula affi. pagdeni
Tetragonula punctata
Tetragonula schoeni
Tetragonula pagdeniformis sp.nov.
Tetragonula bitumen sp. nov.
Tetragonula gwenae sp.nov.

4. * Upscaling meliponiculture can increase income through
utilization and commercial production of the stingless bee and
its products through sustained production with abundant
colonies and pollen sources, enhanced pollination and health
/wellness products.
* For the sustainability of this emerging ago-industry ,
knowing the distribution of the stingless bees in the wild, its
pollen sources and bloom pattern in meliponaries , crop
pollination as well as utilizing its products could lead to
technology adaptation and verification.
* Since there is no data on the distribution, pollen sources
and pollination efficiency , and value adding products from
stingless bees, this research was conducted. These
information could serve as basis and useful guide for future
meliponiculturists not only in the Bicol region but in other
parts of the country.

5. General objective:
Improve the stingless bee technology in
the Bicol region by knowing the colony
distribution, pollen sources and bloom
patterns , pollination and product utilization
essential in technology adaptation leading to
expansion of livelihood , employment
generation, enhanced high value crop
production through pollination and promotion
of health.

6. Objective:
Mapping the distribution and abundance of stingless bee in
the wild and identify the species found in the different
provinces of the region.

7. Result
Positive occurrences of 24 stingless bee colonies were
sighted in 20 barangays in the provinces in the Bicol region
sighted in 20 barangays , found of varying abundance and
distribution. Mean distances between colonies was shortest
in Albay (0.39km) while farthest in Sorsogon ( 28.993km).
Open nesting with clustered brood types and closed nesting
with spherical brood types of colonies were collected which
belongs to the genus Tetragonula, groups laeviceps and
carbonaria, respectively.
Methodology
Distribution and abundance of stingless bees in the six (6 )
provinces in the Bicol region through sightings of feral
colonies , mapping its location using the Garmin GPS 12XL ,
documenting the nesting sites, hive entrance and hive
architecture. Morphology of 25 adult bees was done and
species identified. Meliponaries were monitored.

8. Camarines Norte
Catanduanes
Camarines Sur
Albay
Sorsogon
Masbate

12. Province Land Area
No. of
Colonies
(sighted/point)
Mean Distance
(km)
Albay 2,552.60 km2 3 0.396
Camarines
Norte
2,329.07 km2 3 4.473
Camarines Sur 5,461.60 km2 5 8.665
Catanduanes 1,511.50 km2 6 5.719
Masbate 4, 047.07 km2 3 9.912
Sorsogon 2,141.45 km2 5 25.993
Total (Bicol) 18,054.30 km2 24 9.913
Some of the Nest
Trees of Stingless
bees in the wild
• Coconut (fern)
• Seo
• Gumihan
• Lanipga
• Narra
• Anislag
• Santol
• Mango
• Cacao
• Cotton fruit

13. Nesting on gumihan tree with the hive entrance,
nest architecture, pollen and honey storage pots.

14. Ecobees and U Farm Hagahag
Farm
MTB Farm
3G Farm Barcelona’s Farm TOP-A Family
Farm
Phil. Honeybee Ind. Balay Buhai sa
Uma
Grajo’s Farm

15. Objective;
Identify the pollen sources of stingless bees in the wild and
in meliponaries

16. Methodology
Thirteen (13) meliponaries were studied for the pollen sources of
bees and bloom pattern in the area. Pollen from flowers of
plants in bloom and bee bread from the colonies were obtained.
Acetolyzed pollen from bee bread and raw pollen were examined
under the microscope. Flowering plants in bloom at the
meliponaries recorded.
Results
A total of 88 plant species were identified as pollen sources of
stingless bees in 13 the meliponaries surveyed . Coconut (Cocos
nucifera) was the common food source in the meliponaries ,
although other sources were horticultural, agronomic, forest ,
fruits crops and mangrove species. Stingless bees were found
to be not host-specific and its floral preferences is diverse.
Majority of the plants were in bloom in the apiaries from
December to February except for some trees which were only at
the flowering stage starting January.

17. COCONUT

18. POMEL
O

19. BANAN
A

20. AVOCAD

21. RAMBUTA
N

22. POMEL

23. Some of the 88 plant species as pollen sources of bees and
its bloom pattern
Scientific Name:
Lagerstroemia speciosa
Common Name: Banaba/
Giant Crepe-myrtle,
Scientific Name:
Helianthus annuus
Common Name:
Sunflower

24. Scientific Name:
Solanum melongena
Common Name: Eggplant
Scientific Name:
Cosmos bipinnatus
Common Name: Cosmos
Scientific Name:
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Common Name:
Peacock Flower

25. Scientific Name:
Portulaca oleracea
Common Name: Moss rose,
Pigweed, Portulaca
Scientific Name:
Malpighia coccigera
Common Name: Miniature
holly /Singapore holly
Scientific Name:
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Common Name:
Peacock Flower

26. Objective:
Determine the pollination efficiency of stingless bees on
pigeon pea.

27. Methodology
Stingless bees’ pollination efficiency on pigeon pea was
evaluated in the field. Treatments were: 1- Open pollination;
2- Caged flowers without bees; - Caged flowers with 5 bees ;
4- Caged flowers with 10 bees; 5 – Caged flowers with 15
bees. The total number of flowers per branch and number of
flowers pollinated were counted and computed the percentage
pollination efficiency.
Results
Pollination efficiencies of stingless bees on pigeon pea
significantly differed. Highest pollination efficiency of 96.88 %
was recorded in caged condition with 15 bees followed by
open pollination (81.46%) , caged with 10 bees (68.81%) ,
caged with 5 bees (54.23%) and closed pollination (37.36%).

28. PIGEON
PEA

29. Sunflowe
r
Coconut
Jatropha
Cucumber
Sweet
sorghum

30. Objective:
Develop and improve food and cosmetic products from
stingless bees.

31. Methodology
Food products were developed making use of either or a
combination of the by products such as propolis, pollen and
honey. Sensory evaluation of the products developed followed
by packaging and labelling.
Results
Stingless bee products such as pollen, propolis and honey are
utilized as raw materials and as value adding for food
(macaroons with honey, polvoron with pollen ,honey-propolis
candies) and skin products ( moisturizing cream, propolis
spray, hand sanitizer, bath soap and shampoo bar,) with
improved packaging and labeling. Value adding products
with an increase in income between 40-73% for food and 7-
81% for skin/cosmetic products.

32. Bees wax
Honey Pollen
Propolis

33.  Refinement of the Skin Care Product developed
by the Regional Apiculture Center (RAC)
Cream developed
by RAC (2011)
Ingredients:
Van cream
Propolis
VCO
Bees wax
Scent
New Moisturizing
Cream
Ingredients:
Van cream
Propolis
Honey
Beeswax
Pili pulp oil

34. New Food Products using Stingless Bees
as Ingredient
Item Cost (in pesos)
Sugar 15.00
Condensed milk 35.00
Eggs 20.00
Butter 35.00
Flour 11.00
Vanilla 5.00
Baking powder 5.00
T.biroi honey 10.00
Dessicated coconut 15.00
Paper liner 20.00
Labor 35.00
Packaging 22.05
Label 29.30
Total cost for 150 pcs 267.15
Sale of 150 pcs at 2.50/pc 375.00
Net Income 108.00 (40%)
Cost of Production for 1 recipe of
macaroons with honey
Macaroons
with honey

35. Polvoron
with pollen
Item Cost (in pesos)
Honey 100.00
Sugar 25.00
Skim Milk 25.00
Pollen 50.00
Butter 5.00
Packaging 2.00
Total Cost 207.00
Cost per pc (140 pcs
/recipe)
1.47
Selling Price 2.00
Total Sales 280.00
Net income 73.00 (73%)
Production cost for Polvoron with Pollen

36. Item Cost (in pesos)
Propolis 75.00
White sugar 15.00
T. biroi honey 100.00
Condensed milk 35.00
Packaging 20.00
Label 20.00
Gas 20.00
Total Cost 285.00
Sale of 200 pcs of
candy at 2/pc
400.00
Net Income 115.00 (40%)
Production cost for Honey & Propolis candy
Honey-Propolis
Candies

37. Item Cost (in pesos )
Propolis ethanolic extract 250.00
Bactigel 108.00
Plastic container 100.00
Label 60.00
Scent 40.00
Total Cost 558.00
Actual Cost per pc (80 ml) 27.90
Price per piece 35.00
Total Income 700.00
Net Income 142.00 (25%)
Production cost for alco-propolis sanitizer (20 pcs)
Alco-
propolis
sanitizer

38. Propolis
Spray
Item Cost (in pesos
)
Ethanolic extract 1800.00
Container 300.00
Total Cost for 30 pcs 2100.00
Cost per pc 70.00
Sale per bottle 75.00
Total Sales 2,250
Net Income 150.00 (7%)
Production cost of Propolis throat spray

39. Bath Soap
Item Cost (in pesos )
Palm oil 27.68
Beeswax 22.50
VCO 16.80
Distilled water 4.63
Lye 2.63
Honey & pollen 8.00
Propolis 100.00
Plastic/wax paper 12.77
Total Cost 195.01
Actual Cost per pc 9.28
Sales of 21 pcs 315.00
Net Income 95. (61%)
Production cost for the soap

40. Shampoo Bar
Item Cost (in pesos )
Palm oil 27.68
Lard 10.00
VCO 5.60
Distilled water 4.63
Lye 2.63
Honey & pollen 8.00
Propolis 100.00
Guava wine 5.00
Plastic/wax paper 12.77
Glycerin 5.00
Total Cost 173.68
Actual Cost per pc 8.27
Sales of 21 pcs 315.00
Net Income 141.32 (81%)
Production cost for the shampoo bar

42. From the research results, IEC materials were developed for
distribution to potential adapters.
Distributed to participants/trainees in the Taro
Forum, PMCP Conference, Promotion of OA
with Meliponicuture Project and the Technology
Commercialization on Wheels of UPLB-CDEM

43. • Stingless bee colonies in the wild is distributed and abundant in its
geographical locations in Bicol as sighted in Albay (Daraga), Cam.
Norte (San Lorenzo Ruiz), Camarines Sur (Goa,Iriga,Tinambac),
Catanduanes (Viga,Bagamanoc, Panganiban),Masbate(Aroroy),
Sorsogon (Bulusan, Casiguran, Pilar , Prieto Diaz). Numerous trees
were identified as nests with coconut as most dominant. Open
nested colonies with clustered brood are T. sapiens while closed
nested colonies with spherical brood are T. biroi.
• Bloom pattern and pollen sources in 24 meliponaries were
documented with coconut as its major source which blooms year
round.
• Pollination of caged pigeon pea flowers was 96.88% efficient using
15 stingless bees.
• Food and cosmetic products using pollen, propolis and honey were
moisturizing cream, propolis spray, hand sanitizer, bath soap and
shampoo bar, macaroons with honey, polvoron with pollen ,honey-
propolis candies. An increase income between 7-81% was obtained.
Three (3) IEC materials were distributed in trainings, exhibits and

44. • Ground truthing of occurrence of stingless bees in the
Philippines, identification of the species through
morphometric analysis and gene sequencing.
• Bloom pattern and pollen sources of stingless bees in
areas with commercial meliponaries
• Formulation of conservation and management strategies
for meliponiculture
• Exploration of the carrying capacity of forage areas for
success of contract pollination
• Development of food and skin care products approved by
BFAD
• Technology adaptation campaigns for a sustainable
Meliponiculture