Melipona subnitida is a neotropical bee species in the Apidae family found in the dry areas of Northeastern Brazil.

[1] This species nests in hollow trunks of living trees, where the workers create a vertical colony.

This species is within the tribe Meliponini ("stingless bees"), and was originally described by Adolpho Ducke, a Brazilian researcher.

[5] They are identifiable by their obscure metasomal bands, lack of facial maculation, and fulvous thoracic pile.

[6] Melipona subnitida are commonly found in northeastern Brazil where they are thought to be an important pollinator and honey producer.

They are notable of the caatinga biome, where they are important in the economy of the human population there due to their pollination and honey production.

[8] This species has been observed to be a host for a variety of parasites such as flies, beetle mites, moths, ants, and robber stingless bees.

[9] M. subnitida brood chambers may produce one litre of honey a year in the caatinga region of Brazil.

[10] This species is able to help the population in this area with a lucrative industry, but the practice is mostly unsustainable due to predatory extraction and deforestation, which are the main causes of the decline of M.