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A swarm of Stingless Bees

on 15th April 2019

On the morning of 12th January 2019, I was informed of a swarm of bees at a footpath in front of my house. The swarm, flying around an ornamental potted plant, was made up of numerous tiny bees at around my eye level. It was initially thought that it was a swarm of wasps. After all, the wasp was nesting nearby. At this time the wasps were peaceful, with many of them resting on the retaining wall LINK.

Stingless Bees resting on the retaining wall around an opening.

I managed to catch a few swarmers with a small fish net and recognised them as Stingless Bees (Trigona sp.). By afternoon the swarm was still around. Next morning many of the Stingless Bees were found around a small opening on the retaining wall of the house. Many of the bees were entering and exiting the opening. By afternoon the number of bees decreased with a few around the opening. However, numerous bees were swarming again in the evening when it was cooler (see above and video below).

Three days later the swarming ended. The bees were seen inside a small opening on the wall and appeared to have settled down (see video below).

YC Wee
Singapore
19th January 2019

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour through photography and videography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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