There are more than 500 species of bees that do not have stingers. These bees mostly live in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia. They are known for their peaceful behavior and ability to produce honey, although their honey quantity is usually less than that of regular bees. These bees are very diverse in both size and behavior. Some of them are very small, only a few millimeters long, while others can be larger. They also differ in their lifestyle – some live in large colonies, while others in smaller groups.

      One such species is the grifine bees (sometimes called "vulture bees"), which live in Central and South America. These bees do not have stingers, but they can defend themselves by biting, and their saliva can cause painful skin lesions. Grifine bees are unique in that they can feed on meat, although some of them also collect nectar and produce honey. Their honey is sweet and edible, but meat and honey are kept in separate sections in the hive. Grifine bees, like other bees, make combs from wax.

Here are some of the most interesting species of stingless bees and their characteristics:
 

Melipona:
•  Characteristics: These bees are larger, their size can reach up to 20 mm. They produce more acidic and liquid honey than regular bees.

•  Lifestyle: They live in large colonies, usually in tree hollows or rock crevices.
 

Trigona:
•  Characteristics: Smaller bees, ranging in size from 2 to 10 mm. They also produce honey, but in smaller quantities.

•  Lifestyle: They prepare nests in various places, including the ground, tree hollows, and even empty termite mounds.
 

Tetragonula:
•  Characteristics: Very small bees, often only a few millimeters long. Their honey is highly valued for its taste and medicinal properties.

•  Lifestyle: They live in large colonies and often prepare nests in tree hollows or human-made hives.
•  Tetragonula honey contains a rare sugar called trehalulose, which has a low glycaemic index (GI). This means it takes longer for the sugar to be absorbed into the bloodstream, preventing spikes in blood glucose levels.This makes it particularly beneficial for people with diabetes.
 

Scaptotrigona:
•  Characteristics: Medium-sized bees that also produce honey. Their honey is sweet and liquid.

•  Lifestyle: They live in large colonies and prepare nests in various places, including tree hollows and rock crevices.

Crossbreeding of Honey Bees and Stingless Bees

So far, there are no known successful hybrids between stingless bees and regular bees. These two groups of bees are very different in both biology and behavior, making crossbreeding very difficult and unlikely.

Stingless bees and regular bees belong to different families and have different lifestyles and ecological niches. Stingless bees mostly live in tropical regions and have their unique ways of building nests and producing honey. Their comb structure can be less organized than that of regular bees. The combs are often irregular in shape and can be made of wax mixed with resins.