Pot-Honey, Cerumen, and Propolis of Axestotrigona ferruginea (Lepeletier, 1836) from Nigeria

Because honey is used for sweetening and flavoring due to its good taste and aroma, cerumen, pollen, propolis, and microbes found in nests of Axestotrigona ferruginea, formerly placed as Meliponula ferruginea (Lepeletier, 1836) from Nigeria have not gotten the needed attention from researchers. The ethnic names of this stingless bee in the Ibo Tribe from southern Nigeria are Ifufu or Ihuhu. Medical and therapeutic properties are also reported. The physicochemical parameters of Axestotrigona ferruginea honey demonstrated that pH varied from 3.64 to 4.62, acidity varied from 78.54 mg/g to 77.42 mg/g, and electrical conductivity was 16.01 μs/cm–17.42 μs/cm. Analysis evaluated protein, free acid, moisture, liquids, and carbohydrate. Honey was associated with microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Bifidobacterium, and Pediococcus) and yeast. Microbes can affect storage, quality, or deterioration of honey. Bacterial isolates recovered from Axestotrigona ferruginea pot-honey sampled in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, included Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Escherichia coli, Proteus, and Klebsiella.