ACTA Apicola Brasilica

Maturity and Quality of Honey Produced by Tubi Bees (Scaptotrigona sp.) from the North Coast Region of Maranhense, Brazil

2023-09-30T22:19:34-03:00

The tubi bee (Scaptotrigona sp.) is a species of stingless bee that belongs to the Meliponini tribe (Hymenoptera, Apidae), found mainly in tropical forests, and in Brazil, the species occurs in the north, northeast, southeast and center regions west. The lack of technical regulation of identity and standard for the production of honey from the tubi bee is an obstacle for the productive chain of this species, since meliponiculture is an alternative income generation activity of great importance for traditional populations. Thus, aiming to contribute to the evaluation of the quality of honey from stingless bees, this work aimed to evaluate the maturity parameters of samples of honey from tubi bees. Moisture, reducing sugars and apparent sucrose analyzes were performed at the Laboratory of Macromolecules and Natural Products at the State University of Maranhão. According to the results obtained for the maturity parameters, the honey samples showed an average total moisture percentage of 26.29% ± 1.47, for reducing sugars the total average found was 53.97 g.100 g^-1 ± 2 ,71 and for apparent sucrose, the average total value obtained was 6.29 g.100 g^-1 ± 2.97, ranging from 2.84 to 11.19 g.100 g^-1. It was observed that the results found are compatible with the standards established for honey from meliponines in Brazil. Honey from stingless tubi bees has composition and chemical characteristics specific to the species.

Encapsulated honey melipona (Scaptotrigona mexicana) incorporated into a confectionery product

2024-02-08T13:04:59-03:00

The Meliponini honey is differentiated by having high humidity and acidity, it is used curatively for eye problems, sores, skin spots, menstrual pain, respiratory conditions, and asthma. Species of Melipona beecheii typical of Yucatan, as well as the species Scaptotrigona mexicana known in communities of the Sierra Poblana have similar chemical characteristics, varying in minerals, floral sources. In this investigation, a mint and eucalyptus gummy with Meliponini honey will be obtained, standardizing the composition of the raw material (MP) as well as the process. In MP and gummies, a physicochemical and microbiological analysis is determined, sensory only for the finished product, prior to the encapsulation of the honey, having the gummies as support material. The MP presents a humidity of 26%; 72° Brix, EC=0.5 mS/cm; pH=2.7, Pfund=87, Free acidity=20meq/Kg, Glucose=2 g/Kg, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)=1.3 mg/Kg. Microbiologically for BMA, fungi and yeasts, total coliforms do not present a risk with results below 10 CFU/g for PM, as well as gummies. Sensorially, it only presents significant differences in firmness (eucalyptus gummy) and flavor (honey gummy) when comparing the encapsulated formulations, the most accepted being the melipona honey encapsulated gummy. When comparing parameters in the best evaluated gummy, a decrease in ash, brix degrees, electrical conductivity is observed, HMF indicates that the process used does not affect melipona honey. The gummy encapsulated with melipona honey is a feasible means of being used as a product in the market.

Main bee diseases in Portugal:

2023-10-19T15:00:37-03:00

The bee is the most important pollinator in the world. Threats to the health of bees continue to increase worldwide, contributing to the decline in their productivity. Bees are susceptible to a huge variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and mites. This work aimed to present a compilation of the main parasitic, bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases of bees in Portugal, describing the etiological agents involved, their pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and control. The implementation of sanitary measures and good management practices is fundamental for the prevention and control of diseases and constitutes one of the main challenges of modern beekeeping.