Table 1 Overview of seven stingless bee species, their local name(s) and literal meaning(s) in the local language (Luhya) of the community at Kakamega forest in Kenya
Scientific name | Local name(s) in Luhya | Literal meaning in Luhya |
|---|---|---|
Meliponula (Meliponula) bocandei (Spinola 1853) | Igora | Igora = lost: “getting lost”; “a lost sweetness in the forest” |
Meliponula (Axestotrigona) ferruginea (Lepeletier 1841) | Inasasa (Isukha community) | Msaza = man: “men energy”; "sweet"; “found in trees” |
Meliponula (Axestotrigona) togoensis (Stadelmann 1895) | Iwera (Tiriki community) Iwere (Isukha community) | " medicine"; “clears the stomach”; “not easy to find” |
Hypotrigona spp. Cockerell 1934 | Vuyiyi | “aggressive”; “stupid”; “small”; " found in the walls of the house" |
Liotrigona Moure 1961 | Vuyiyi (Tiriki community) Chihiyi (Isukha community) | Those two words refer to the sound they make “iiiiii” |
Meliponula (Meliplebeia) lendliana (Friese 1900) | Indakala | "found in the ground" |
Plebeina armata (Magretti 1895) | Vusitsi | Vusitsi = “wild banana” (found on plantain trees) |