Buzzing In Belize: Exploring The Country's Bee Population

Belize is home to a variety of bees, including the Africanized honey bee, also known as the killer bee, which was accidentally released in Brazil in the 1950s and reached Belize in the 1980s. The Mayan civilization, which was the country's first beekeepers, produced honey from stingless bees, a practice that has continued in the country to this day. While honey has been produced in Belize since ancient times, its commercialization began in 1959 with the introduction of the honey-carrying bee, Apis mellifera, from Mexico. The country also has a history of beekeeping and honey production, with projects geared towards expanding the honey production subsector and providing capacity-building initiatives for new and existing beekeepers.

Stingless bees in Belize

Belize is home to several species of stingless bees, which are a large group of bees comprising the tribe Meliponini. These bees are closely related to common honey bees and are sometimes called stingless honey bees or meliponines. While they do not have stingers, they exhibit other defensive behaviours and mechanisms, such as biting and ejecting irritating liquids that can burn the skin.

Stingless bees have been a part of Belize's ecosystem and culture for centuries. The ancient Mayans maintained colonies of stingless bees as a source of honey, using it for sweetening foods and producing a fermented drink similar to mead. They also considered bees sacred, with a bee god called Ah-Muzen-Cab. Today, stingless bees continue to play an important role in the country's honey industry, with Belizean honey being consumed locally and used in cooking, baking, beverages, sweeteners, and medicine.

Unfortunately, the introduction of Africanized bees and domestic honey bees has led to a decline in the number of stingless bee colonies. Additionally, fragmentation and loss of natural forests in Central and South America threaten the survival of these bees and the tropical plants they have evolved to pollinate.

Honey production in Belize

In the mid-1900s, new species of bees were introduced to Belize, marking the beginning of commercial honey production in the country. The introduction of the Apis mellifera, or honey-carrying bee, in 1959, was a pivotal moment as these bees were brought in from Mexico as pollinators of sugarcane. This led to the commercialisation of honey in Belize.

In 1987, Apis mellifera scutellata, or Africanised honey bees (AHB), were detected in Belize. This event significantly increased honey production in the country. The Africanised species are prolific honey producers, but their aggressive nature made them challenging to manage. Many beekeepers struggled with the technical knowledge and capacity to handle these bees, which led to a decline in the industry.

However, with time and technical assistance, beekeepers in Belize gradually enhanced their skills in managing Africanised bee apiaries. By the year 2000, there was a gradual revival of beekeeping, and individual beekeepers began recording increased productivity levels. Initiatives such as the Belize Honey Production Re-Development Support Project, funded by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, aimed to provide capacity-building support to new and existing beekeepers.

Today, honey is produced throughout Belize, with the majority of output coming from the Orange Walk and Cayo Districts. While all of Belize's honey is currently consumed locally, there have been efforts to establish exports. The NORWALK BEEKEEPERS COOPERATIVE, formed in the early 1980s, exported about 400 tons of honey annually to Europe, the UK, Holland, and Dutch markets.

Belize's honey industry continues to grow and thrive, with a focus on meeting domestic market demand and promoting sustainable practices. The country's unique history of beekeeping and the presence of both stingless bees and Africanised honey bees contribute to the diverse and fascinating landscape of honey production in Belize.

Africanized honey bees in Belize

Belize is home to a variety of bee species, including the Africanized honey bee (AHB), also known as the Africanized killer bee. Native to the Americas, these bees were first detected in Belize in 1987 and have since become a significant part of the country's honey production industry.

The Africanized honey bees in Belize are known for their aggressive nature and defensive behaviour. They are easily provoked and will attack if they perceive a threat to their hive. However, they are generally not considered a threat to humans as long as they are left undisturbed. It is important for locals and tourists to be aware of the triggers that may incite an attack, such as loud noises, strong odours, and disturbances to their hives.

The introduction of Africanized honey bees has had a significant impact on the honey industry in Belize. While they are prolific honey producers, their aggressive nature made them difficult to manage for local beekeepers. Many beekeepers left the industry due to the lack of technical knowledge and capacity to handle these bees. However, with time and external technical assistance, the Ministry of Agriculture was able to enhance its capacity and transfer the necessary knowledge to beekeepers across the country.

By the year 2000, there was a gradual revival of beekeeping in Belize. Beekeepers who returned to the industry improved their skills in managing Africanized bee apiaries, and individual beekeepers began recording increased productivity levels. Today, honey production in Belize occurs mainly in the Orange Walk and Cayo District, and all of the honey produced is consumed locally.

In addition to their impact on the honey industry, Africanized honey bees have also contributed to the decline in populations of stingless bees, which were traditionally kept by the Mayans for honey production. The stingless bee species are now facing threats due to the introduction of Africanized bees and domestic honey bees, as well as habitat loss caused by fragmentation and loss of natural forests in Central and South America.

History of beekeeping in Belize

The history of beekeeping in Belize dates back to the Mayan civilisation, which spread to the region between 1500 BC and 1200 BC and flourished until around 1000 AD. The Mayans were the first beekeepers in Belize, producing honey from stingless bees using traditional methods such as hollowed-out tree trunks. Honey was an important dietary supplement for the Mayans, and stingless bees remained the primary source of honey until the mid-1900s when new species were introduced and commercial honey production began.

In 1959, the Apis mellifera (honey-carrying bee) was introduced from Mexico as a pollinator of sugarcane, marking the beginning of honey commercialisation in Belize. However, it was the detection of Apis mellifera scutellata, or Africanised honey bees (AHB), in 1987 that led to a significant increase in honey production in the country.

In the early 1970s, Julian Avila, a beekeeper from the Orange Walk District, started building hives for beekeeping and honey production to improve his living conditions. He sought assistance from the Cooperatives Department and formed the NORWALK BEE KEEPERS COOPERATIVE in 1975, which provided a better livelihood for many families in northern Belize. By the early 1980s, the cooperative was exporting around 400 tons of honey annually to Europe, the UK, Holland, and Dutch markets.

Belize has continued to develop its beekeeping and honey industry, with a focus on capacity-building and good beekeeping practices. In 2018, the Belize Honey Production Re-Development Support Project was established with funding from the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise. The project aims to expand honey production in Belize, targeting women and disadvantaged youth to promote employment and empowerment through sector-specific knowledge acquisition.

Honey uses in Belize

Honey has been produced in Belize since the time of the Mayan civilisation, who kept colonies of stingless bees as a source of honey. The Mayans used honey to sweeten foods and to produce a fermented drink similar to mead.

In modern Belize, honey is used in cooking, baking, beverages, as a sweetener, and as medicine. Honey from stingless bees is said to have a medicinal taste and odour, and is used to treat scratches and infected eyes.

The introduction of Africanised honey bees to Belize in 1987 drastically increased the production of honey in the country. However, the aggressive nature of these bees made them difficult to manage, and many beekeepers left the industry. Since then, with assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, beekeepers have been able to improve their management of Africanised bee apiaries, and by 2000 there was a gradual revival of beekeeping.

Belize's honey industry continues to face challenges, including pests, diseases, and the importation of contraband products of inferior quality. However, efforts are being made to support beekeepers and promote the growth of the honey industry, with the ultimate goal of meeting domestic market demand and potentially exporting honey internationally.

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