suggestive evidence that
stingless bees add head gland secretions during cerumen
production (dos Santos et al. 2009). Stingless bees use the
cerumen to mummify intruders and to preserve a sterile
environment in the hive (Lehmberg et al. 2008; Patricio et
al. 2002; Sawaya et al. 2004). In contrast to honeybees,
which use propolis as internal layering around nest combs,
stingless bees use large amounts of cerumen as a building
material for nest elements such as honeypots, pillars, and
other structures in the nests (Roubik 2006). Although the
terms cerumen and propolis are used interchangeably in
literature on stingless bees (Patricio et al. 2002), in this
article, cerumen refers to the product of stingless bees and
propolis refers to the product of honeybees.