The concept of higher eusociality, defined by the presence of distinct queen and worker castes and characterized by features such as perennial colony lifestyles and extensive food sharing among adults, is particularly relevant in understanding the social structure of these tribes.

This divergence helps explain the varied ecological and social solutions developed by these two groups of bees, such as foraging communication, colony defense/reproduction and brood rearing.

This favorable fossilization process may be attributed to the behaviors of stingless bees, which collect significant amounts of tree resin for building nests and defense, increasing the likelihood of entrapment.

[32] Despite this relatively good fossil record, the evolutionary history of stingless bees remains poorly understood, particularly regarding their widespread distribution across various ecological niches around the globe.

Recognizable by the corbicula - a distinctive structure on their hind legs resembling a small basket - workers efficiently carry pollen, resin, clay, and other materials gathered from the environment.

[46][38][47] Depending on the species, queens can lay varying quantities of eggs daily, ranging from a dozen (e.g., Plebeia julianii) to several hundred (e.g., Trigona recursa).

[51] To date, at least 10 species have been documented to possess such "soldiers", including Tetragonisca angustula, T. fiebrigi, and Frieseomelitta longipes, with the guards not only larger, but also sometimes a different color from ordinary workers.

Wax is secreted by young bees through glands located on the top of their abdomen and this mixture not only provides structural strength but also offers antimicrobial properties, inhibiting the growth of fungi and bacteria.

[55][56][57][58] On the other hand, clay, sourced from the wild and exhibiting diverse colors based on its mineral origin, serves as another essential raw material for SB.

Rich in minerals, amino acids, and flavonoid compounds, the composition of honey varies among colonies of the same species, influenced by factors such as season, habitat, and collected resources.

[62][63] Such low glycaemic index honey is beneficial for humans because its consumption does not cause blood sugar to spike, forcing the body to make more insulin in response.

[69] A significant minority of meliponine species, belonging to genera like Camargoia, Geotrigona, Melipona, Mourella, Nogueirapis, Paratrigona, Partamona, Schwarziana, and others, opt for ground nests.

Furthermore, cavity-nesting species can opportunistically utilize human constructions, nesting under roofs, in hollow spaces in walls, electricity boxes, or even metal tubes.

[74] Stingless bee colonies exhibit a diversity of construction patterns of brood cells, primarily composed of soft cerumen, a mixture of wax and resin.

Some species, such as Melipona, Plebeia, Plebeina, Nannotrigona, Trigona, and Tetragona, may occasionally build spirals alongside other comb structures, as observed in Oxytrigona mellicolor.

Prompt removal of broken jars, sealing gaps with wax or tape, and maintaining vigilance during the rainy season for heightened phorid activity are recommended.

Furthermore, other species such as Melipona fuliginosa, Oxytrigona tataira, Trigona hyalinata, T. spinipes, and Tetragona clavipes are reported to have comparable habits of pillaging and invading, which emphasises the variety of strategies employed by stingless bees in acquiring resources.

Other enemies include: jumping spiders (Salticidae), moths, assassin bugs (Reduviidae), beetles, parasitoid wasps, predatory mites (Amblyseius), mantises (Mantodea), robber flies (Asilidae), etc.

[88] Human activities pose the most significant threat to stingless bees, whether through honey and nest removal, habitat destruction, pesticide use or introduction of non-native competitors.

Woodpeckers and various bird species, including bee-eaters, woodcreepers, drongos, jacamars, herons, kingbirds, flycatchers, swifts, and honeyeaters, occasionally prey on stingless bees.

African honeyguides have developed a mutualism with human honey-hunters, actively guiding them to bee nests for honey extraction and then consuming leftover wax and larvae.

[90] Nest entrance guards play a vital role in colony defense by actively preventing unauthorized entry through attacking intruders and releasing alarm pheromones to recruit additional defenders.

Some species (Tetragonisca angustula and Nannotrigona testaceicornis, for example) also close their nest entrances with a soft and porous layer of cerumen at night, further enhancing colony security during vulnerable periods.

The significance of bees extends to arid regions, such as desertic and xeric shrublands, where bee-pollinated plants are essential for preventing erosion, supporting wildlife, and ensuring ecosystem stability.

Despite their ecological significance, the diversity, conservation, and behavior of these bees remain underexplored, particularly compared to better-studied regions such as South America and Southeast Asia.

Research indicates that stingless bees in Africa face greater pressures than their counterparts in the American and Asian tropics, underlining the urgency for targeted conservation measures.

[2][119] This activity has experienced significant growth since August 2004, when national laws were changed to allow native bee colonies to be freely marketed, which was previously forbidden in an unsuccessful attempt to protect these species.

Also, due to the fact of those bees storing honey in cerumen pots instead of standardized honeycombs as in the honeybee rearing makes extraction a lot more difficult and laborious.

[127] Due to the lack of a functional stinger and characteristic nonaggressive behavior of many Brazilian species of stingless bees, they can be reared without problems in densely populated environments (residential buildings, schools, urban parks), provided enough flowers are at their disposal nearby.

They are fairly large bees, up to 11 mm (7/16") in length, and as a result have better body heat control, allowing them to live in regions where temperatures can drop a little lower than 0 °C (32 °F).