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Native bees are crucial in maintaining ecological balance, with over 600 species worldwide and 46 in Mexico alone. However, these important pollinators are at risk due to pesticides and the introduction of Africanized bee species. To address this threat, researchers have been studying the potential benefits of bacteria from the digestive tracts of native bees.
In an interview about a project on characterizing lactic bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of native bees, specialist Guiomar Melgar Lalanne emphasized the importance of native bee species in pollinating cloud forests and tropical ecosystems in Veracruz. Despite their importance, native bees are at risk due to pesticides and the introduction of Africanized bee species.
To address this threat, Melgar Lalanne and other academics conducted research with honey producers from native bees in Teocelo, Veracruz. They examined the digestive tracts of Mexican scaptotrigona and pectoralis species to identify beneficial microorganisms that could protect them from diseases. Two key microorganisms, Weissella sp and Fructobacillus sp, were discovered and found to have potential benefits for humans as well.
Further research is underway to study the potential of these bacteria in combating pesticides like glyphosate and contributing to the conservation of native bee populations. The decline in native bees is concerning not only for their own survival but also for the environmental balance they help maintain. Finding ways to preserve native bees and increase their presence could have positive impacts on forests, agricultural fields, and human populations.
Studying and utilizing the beneficial properties of bacteria from native bees could lead to solutions that protect these important pollinators while promoting environmental sustainability.
