Meliponine
/ˌmɛlɪˈpoʊnaɪn/noun
Relating to the tribe Meliponini, a group of mostly tropical stingless bees.
Did you know?The name ultimately combines Greek meli, “honey,” with ponos, “labor” or “toil,” portraying the bee as a tireless producer rather than a stinging insect.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*melit-
“Honey; the ancient root behind many honey-related words”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλι (meli)
“Honey”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πόνος (ponos)
“Labor, toil, or hard work”
19th Century
New Latin
Melipona
“A taxonomic genus name formed from Greek elements meaning approximately “honey-worker””
19th Century
New Latin
Meliponini
“The scientific tribe name for stingless bees in the genus Melipona and its relatives”
Modern English
English
meliponine
“Relating to Meliponini, especially its stingless bees”
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