The Pollinator Effect: Vanilla Orchid and Melipona Bee an original watercolor

I have been long fascinated with the wild vanilla orchid, the only orchid we grow to enhance our food. This plant that originated in South and Central America where it is naturally pollinated by a special type of bee; the Melipona bee. Now it is grown all over the world where the domesticated orchids are pollinated by hand. The stingless Melipona bees were historically reared with extreme care for thousands of years, given their sacred status to Mayans and the high commercial value of their products. There are efforts underway to preserve the bees. The vanilla orchid continues to be our favorite orchid, and we must protect it and the ecosystems it thrives in.