Grete Pasch · CC BY 4.0Jate'i stingless bee
Tetragonisca fiebrigi (antes incluida en T. angustula) · jate'i
A tiny native stingless bee whose honey has been used for centuries as a home remedy.
What it is
A minute native bee with no functional sting, it nests in hollows in tree trunks and walls and builds a little wax tube at the entrance, watched over by guard bees. It produces small amounts of aromatic, slightly tangy honey that is highly valued in folk medicine. Today it is kept in boxes by stingless-bee keepers (meliponiculture), and it also pollinates many native plants.
Did you know…?
You can watch it calmly at the nest entrance: it doesn't sting, and at most it may get tangled in your hair.
Where
Forest edges, vegetable gardens and even city gardens in the Eastern Region. Some rural guesthouses and reserves have stingless-bee hives you can visit.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.