Bug FAQHeller's Stingless Bee
Partamona helleri · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Apidae
Source: Wikipedia
Partamona helleri nests in protected spots such as under epiphytic roots, wall holes, eaves, and even termite mounds. When disturbed, this aggressive bee may coil around hair or fur and bite the skin with its mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It lands abruptly, a behavior called “crash-landing,” when entering its nest. The nest entrances are elaborate and differ among Partamona species.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
When threatened, it coils around a victim’s hair or fur and bites the skin with its mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
It can bite people, using its mandibles to nibble the skin.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It builds nests under epiphytic roots, in wall holes, eaves, house ridges, under air-conditioning units, abandoned bird nests, on tree branches, and in active termite mounds.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Do they bite?
Yes, they may bite people, coiling around hair or fur and nibbling the skin with their mandibles.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Apidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partamona_helleri
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.