Comparison of the antimicrobial activity of honey produced by Tetragonisca angustula (Meliponinae) and Apis mellifera from different phytogeographic regions of Costa Rica

The purpose of the present study was to investigate and compare the demonstrated variation in antimicrobial activity of honey produced by introduced A. mellifera and the stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, commonly kept in hives in Costa Rica. There was no difference in activity of honey produced by Apis mellifera and T. angustula against the 5 microbes tested. Honey from different phytogeographic regions exhibited differential antimicrobial activity and susceptibility of yeasts to honey of either species was greater than that of bacteria.