Parâmetros de diferenciação dos méis dos principais grupos de abelhas criadas para produção de mel na Bahia

Abstract

Beekeeping has been increasing in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Although there are some physicochemical parameters defined in policies, the products of social stingless bees still lack a specific legislation. Determining these parameters is essential to characterize the honey and ensure the standards for their consumption. This study aimed at assessing three physicochemical parameters of the biological identity of the honeys of the main honeybee species raised in the state of Bahia: Apis mellifera (AM), Melipona scutellaris (MS), and Tetragonisca angustula (TA). We collected honey samples in the region of Recôncavo Baiano from 2008 to 2010, and analyzed them in the Insect Research Laboratory (INSECTA) at the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Cruz das Almas. We measured moisture levels, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), and diastase in honey samples. The average (mean ± SD) values of these parameters were: moisture (%) = 18.91 ± 1.10 (AM), 28.84 ± 1.53 (MS), and 27.04 ± 0.49 (TA); HMF (mg.Kg-1) = 14.78 ± 10.55 (PM), 0.93 ± 1.32 (MS), and 0.99 ± 0.57 (TA); and diastase (Göthe) = 17.20 ± 7.75 (AM), 1.21 ± 1.15 (MS), and 15.13 ± 4.70 (TA). The mature honey of stingless bee species showed higher moisture content than the honey of A. mellifera, whereas the HMF values in the honey of stingless bees were lower than in the honey of Apis mellifera. The honey of M. scutellaris showed low values of diastase compared to the honey of A. mellifera and T. angustula, which is an important factor to distinguish them. We suggest the use of these three parameters as basic elements to distinguish the honey of A. mellifera, Melipona spp., and other Trigonini species.