S. postica is one of 25 species in the genus Scaptotrigona and is a critical pollinator of the tropical rain forests of Brazil.

S. postica individuals have different forms of communication from cuticular hydrocarbons to pheromones and scent trails.

Communication is especially useful during worker foraging for nectar and pollen through the Brazilian tropical rain forests.

S. postica is a very important pollinator of the Brazilian tropical rain forests and is widely appreciated for its honey.

[2] Queens are the largest bees in the nest, averaging 38–50 mg, and are identifiable by their swollen abdomens.

S. postica queens cannot independently colonize, instead needing a group of workers to help build a new colony.

[5] Scaptotrigona postica nest in partially hollow sections of trees in the tropical rain forests of Brazil.

[citation needed] Scaptotrigona postica is found in the southern, central-western and northern regions of Brazil as the dense tropical rain forests provide ideal nesting locations.

During the rainy season, colony growth rate raises due to increased resource availability.

[13] Scaptotrigona postica communicate to recognize nest-mates, identify the caste of any individual bee, locate food, and signal danger.

Cuticular hydrocarbons are waxy coatings on S. postica bodies that signal the hierarchy and original colony of any bee.

[5] Hydrocarbons also provide social dominance and fertility cues that are important when determining the queen during colonization.

[14] Scaptotrigona postica workers leave scent paths between the nest and food sources, facilitating the successful foraging of others.

Workers follow the tracks of other populations of the same species, increasing foraging success of both colonies.

[17] S. postica males respond to the pheromones of virgin queens and congregate in groups of variable size at the entrance of the nest.

When mating with the queen, the S. postica drones assume an upright posture, antennae stretched as far and outward as possible.

[24] Worker eggs are larger, more rounded, and laid on the upper inside wall of cells.

The temperature homeostasis is important because of the hot climate of the tropical Brazilian rain forests.

[26] In a study carried out in São Paulo, the main plant used by S. postica for both pollen and nectar was Eucalyptus, a popular introduced tree in the area.

[27] Pollen grains containing protein from Eucalyptus could be found in the midguts of all members of the S. postica colony.

[28] The drones hover at the entrance of the colony waiting for emerging female queens to mate with.

[29] Fortunately for S. postica, these predation attempts are generally unsuccessful as T. boharti only captures a male drone 7% of the time.

Most of these failed attempts are due to conflict with other wasps (interfering with the flight path, collisions, and competition).

However, S. postica guard bees have been observed to bite nest intruders as they alert the other colony members through pheromone signaling.

The main flower type visited by this species on the campus of São Paulo University was that of Eucalyptus, making up over 45% of the pollen collected by the workers.

Some secondary sources for pollen and honey were Mimosa daleoides, Lithraea molleoides, Leucaena leucocephala, and Piptadenia gonacantha.

Many Orchidaceae species common in Brazilian rain forests, such as Mormolyca ringens, have a similar mixture of alkanes/alkenes that will attract those same drones to the flower.

[31] One insecticide in Brazil is Fipronil which inhibits GABA receptors of the nervous system, resulting in seizures, paralysis, and death.

Compared to other bees, S. postica tolerate higher doses of Fipronil, but the toxicity is still high.

Imidacloprid is significantly more toxic to S. postica through topical exposure compared to consumption of the insecticide.