Partamona helleri
species of insect
Partamona helleri, the Heller's stingless bee, is a species of stingless bee from Brazil. It is an aggressive species of bee, when threatened it coils around the victim's hair and fur, in addition to nibbling the skin with its mandibles.
Distribution
It occurs in the neotropical region of Brazil, from the south region to the northeast region in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Sergipe and São Paulo.
Behavior
Nests
Partamona helleri constructs the entrance to its nest in the shape of a large frog's mouth, made of clay with propolis, because of this it is also known as the "toad's mouth bee". The wide outer entrance of the funnel-shaped nest is correlated with the defense of the colony, because it facilitates forager traffic while the narrow inner entrance requires only a few guards to defend.
The construction process involves the use of wax, pure or mixed plant resins, and, in some cases, soil mixed with resins. The entrance structures are distinct and elaborate, varying among Partamona species. The chosen substrate and nest architecture are adapted to provide protection against predators and ensure necessary support. In the case of P. helleri they nest under epiphytic roots, holes in walls, eaves, and ridges of houses, under air conditioning units, abandoned bird nests, freely on tree branches, basically on any substrate providing some protection. Also found in active termite mounds.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Partamona helleri” is species of insect. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Partamona, helleri and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of insect” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 12, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2044782. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Partamona helleri”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Partamona helleri primary sources, Partamona helleri archive and Partamona research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Partamona helleri”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Partamona helleri” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.