Jataí
| Scientific name | Mayan name | Español | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetragonisca angustula | Jataí | Angelita, Mariola | The Little Angel |
Known colloquially as the Angelita (Little Angel) or Mariola, Tetragonisca angustula is perhaps the most beloved stingless bee in the Neotropics.
One of their more striking characteristic is the nest’s entrance: a delicate, pale wax tube that is porous and soft.
To defend this fragile gateway, the species has evolved a unique "hovering guard" caste: specialized soldiers that stay suspended in the air around the entrance, providing a 360-degree aerial defense that is rare among social bees.
In the Yucatan and across Mesoamerica, these bees are prized for their "Miel de Angelita." While a single hive might only produce one or two liters of honey per year, the liquid is culturally and medicinally revered. It is significantly more acidic and liquid than common honeybee honey, traditionally used as a "living pharmacy" to treat ocular conditions like cataracts and various skin infections due to its potent antibacterial properties.
Culturally, the Angelita represents a bridge between the wild and the domestic. Because of their docile nature and lack of a functional stinger, they are frequently kept in urban gardens and balconies, often housed in traditional wooden boxes or hollow logs. In many communities, they are considered "starter" bees for new paleros, serving as a gentle introduction to the sacred three pillars of meliponiculture and the deep ancestral connection to the stingless bee lineage.