Socio-ecological factors associated with the productivity of Melipona beecheii (Meliponini) honey under different production systems in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

In the Yucatan Peninsula region, Mexico, meliponiculture or breeding of stingless bees has been practiced since pre-Hispanic times with a traditional production system (TPS), where bee colonies are housed in hollow logs called “hobone”. Currently, rational hives production (RPS) or mixed hives (MPS) systems have been developed to facilitate their management and production. This study evaluates the main socio-ecological factors associated with Melipona beecheii (Meliponini) honey productivity across three a priori defined production systems in the Yucatan Peninsula. Total 56 interviews of meliponiculturists were conducted between December 2021 and December 2023, across various locations in the region, using referral sampling. We explored some variables (e.g., age of the meliponiculturists, production, number of colonies, years of experience, and educational level) reported as potentially related to the selection of honey production system of M. beecheii. Variables were compared among production systems (TPS, RPS, MPS) using Kruskal–Wallis tests; when significant, Dunn’s post hoc pairwise comparisons were applied with Holm-adjusted p values. Associations among variables were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation. TPS, RPS, and MPS were practiced by 59%, 27%, and 14% of meliponiculturists, respectively. Honey productivity per colony did not differ among systems (TPS: 0.050 [0.018–0.120], RPS: 0.033 [0.025–0.059], MPS: 0.021 [0.013–0.038] kg colony−1 year−1), whereas colony number differed, with higher values in MPS than TPS (MPS: 32.5 [26.2–61.0], TPS: 10 [5–24], RPS: 13 [9–25]).