**6. Conclusion**

*Modern Beekeeping - Bases for Sustainable Production*

**184**

**Figure 12.**

*of Sorensen [47].*

*Pollen resource partitioning of stingless bees: (a) pollen-type richness of samples between different colonies of stingless bees (C =* T. collina *(four colonies); MA =* T. melina*; MCA =* T. melanocephala*), (b) dissimilarity of pollen samples within the monospecific* collina*-aggregation over time, (c) dissimilarity of pollen samples within the mixed aggregation, and (d) flowering activity as a function of time in the habitat [46]. Dissimilarity is calculated as (1-Sørensen-index); Sørensen-index* is index *of similarity base on the equation* 

Nowadays, meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) in SE Asia is significantly increased. The promotion of stingless beekeeping as an additional activity for rural villages, together with high stingless bee species diversity [34], stimulates a revival of this activity. For instance, in Thailand, at least six species (*Tetragonula pagdeni*, *T. laeviceps*, *T. fuscobalteata*, *Lepidotrigona terminate*, *Heterotrigona itama*, and *Geniotrigona thoracica*) are commonly managed for commercial pollination services and honey production. Of these, *T. pagdeni* and *G. thoracica* can be the most easily transferred natural colonies to artificial wooden hive boxes. In addition, there are not only short time to colony recovery after dividing colony (4–8 weeks after dividing) but also show high yield of colony production—honey and pollen [29]. Stingless beekeepers increase colony number of these two stingless bee species for both colonies selling and producing honey in short time periods. Colony of *T. pagdeni* and *G. thoracica* can be sole in price of 800–1500 THB (\$25–\$47 USD) and 4000–5000 THB (\$125–\$157 USD) per colony, respectively. Therefore, *T. pagdeni* and *G. thoracica* are more suitable to promote and develop for meliponiculture in SE Asia. However, the comparisons of honey and propolis yields from common domestic species of stingless bee of SE Asia are highly suggested. The evaluation of status of a potential industry with the stingless bees with regard to honey production and yield, its commercialization, and management should be also taken into account. Unlike *A. mellifera*, meliponiculture in SE Asia is particularly suggested to the small-scale beekeeping with regard to the flora providing source from multi-cultivar systems that are commonly found in this region. The competitive situation of the prices of honey and other products between *Apis* and Meliponini is also a further issue to be determined. The species-based problems and solution that stingless beekeepers faced should be standardized precisely [49–51]. Finally, the management and production scenario should be developed to collectively improve a substantial quantity and quality of stingless bee products as significant competitive items on the international market are suggested.
