Used in:
- As animals that existed:
- Ether 1:24 [2:3], I Nephi 5:62 [17:5], I Nephi 5:176 [18:6]
- As metaphors:
- II Nephi 9:28 [II Nephi 17:15], II Nephi 9:31 [II Nephi 17:18], II Nephi 9:35 [II Nephi 17:22], II Nephi 11:99 [II Nephi 26:25]
What does the Book of Mormon state?
- II Nephi 9:28-35 [II Nephi 17:15-22] repeats Isaiah 7:15-22
- Ether 1:24 [2:3] says the Jaredites took them from the tower area but there is no mention that they arrived in the New World with them
- I Nephi 5:62 [17:5] mentions they existed in the Old World (Bountiful)
- I Nephi 5:176 [18:6] says the Nephites took honey, not bees with them
At face value - Did bees exist in the New World?
Statement
- The stingless bees Melipona beecheii and M. yucatanica are the only native bees cultured to any degree in the Americas. They were extensively cultured by the Mayan tribes for honey, and regarded as sacred.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingless_bee
- A study published in 2000 by Marroquín reported the existence of 10 genera and 27 species of meliponini in Guatemala. However, due to the few specimen collection, this may not be an accurate measure of the actual diversity. Indeed, the author proposed that the diversity in Guatemala might be similar to that of Mexico, where Ayala (1999) described 11 genera and 46 species.
Assessment
- Bees are endemic to Mesoamerica
