Melipona beecheii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Apidae |
Genus: | Melipona |
Species: | M. beecheii
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Binomial name | |
Melipona beecheii Bennett, 1831
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Melipona beecheii is a species of eusocial stingless bee. It is native to Central America from the Yucatán Peninsula in the north to Costa Rica in the south.[2] M. beecheii was cultivated in the Yucatán Peninsula starting in the pre-Columbian era by the ancient Maya civilization. The Mayan name for M. beecheii is xunan kab, which translates roughly to "regal lady bee".[3] M. beecheii serves as the subject of various Mayan religious ceremonies.
Villanueva
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).