Stingless bees are an important group of social bees often managed for food production and crop pollination. Despite this, there is little scientific interest in their adversities, such as pests and diseases.

A recent study carried out by Australian researchers collected the scientific papers available on this topic to provide a systematic review of the biological threats of these bees.Authors reported 48 studies on arthropod pests (such as mites, beetles, flies, moths, cleptoparasite bees) and 28 on microbial diseases of stingless bees, particularly viral, bacterial and fungal and protozoan diseases, but also unknown pathogens.

This study highlights the gaps in the knowledge of stingless bees’ pests and diseases, especially when compared to honey bees. Gaps that should be addressed soon.

Go to the scientific paper here.