ABSTRACT
In his initial research Posey (1983f) recorded 56 named folk species of stingless bees that are recognized and classified by the Kayapó Indians, of which nine species are considered ‘semi-domesticated’ or ‘manipulated’ by the Indians. Many of these meliponine bees are of economic importance to the Kayapó. Wax, cerumen and resin are used for artefacts; honey, pollen, and larvae are used for food; pupae are used for food and medicine; and pollen and bee parts are important in medicinal preparations (Posey 1983f). Even non-utilitarian species are known and classified by the Kayapó, who consider all social insects to be of epistemological importance. The Indians believe that an ancient shaman (wayanga), who studied social Hymenoptera behaviour, taught their ancestors how to live, work, and defend themselves like social insects (see Chapter 12). This ‘natural model’ for society is symbolically represented by the nests of Polybia spp. wasps (amuh) and ceremonially manifested in a special meliponine beeswax (cerumen) hat called me˜ kutôm (Posey 1983g, 1983d).
