Central America and Australia are the only two regions in the world to house Meliponini, a variety of honey-producing, stingless bees. Ancient Mayan civilisation revered this bee, as a symbol for the bee god Ah Muzen Cab. These bees were, and still are, treated by native Mayan families as pets.

The ancient method of enclosing a wild hive into a portable log is still in use today. Meliponini are, however, rapidly declining in population due to deforestation reducing their habitat and the increase in africanised bee-farming, which produces much more honey. The beauty of the sacred honey-harvesting ritual is quickly disappearing with it.