The study was proposed to assess the stingless bee production practices, distribution and indigenous knowledge in the Bale and West Arsi Zones of Southeastern Oromia. Three districts were considered within two zones. From each district three Rural Kebeles were selected and a total of 65 stingless bee honey hunters were interviewed and field observations were also added. Across-sectional study with purposive sampling methods was used to conduct the study. According to the study results, the honey hunters were categorized Meliponula species (underground nesting stingless bees) and Trigona species (tree trunk cavity nesting stingless bee). They were used different methods to find the ground-nesting stingless bees and these includes by chance when walking along forest or grazing land or to home land, direct observations of nest entrance or dedicated searching for presence of holes on the ground, use of honey smell to locate the nest site on ground and use of its enemies like ant as indicators. The average amount of honey harvested per nest was 2.88±0.23 Litters and it was differing from place to place depending on availability of flowering plants, age of nests and season of the year. The study indicated harvesting honey in the study area was totally in destructive way. As the respondent report, the collected honey was used for home consumption, treatment of different kinds of diseases and for income generations. About 87.7% of respondents were searching stingless bees at early in the morning and afternoon when sun gets on set. 49.2% of sample respondents were harvested honey twice per year. During the study time, the price of stingless bee honey ranges from 250 to 1000 with mean price 507.89 Ethiopian Birr per litter at local market. The study showed that honey badger, aardvark, sugar ant, ant, termites and wasps as the major stingless bee enemies in the study areas. The study revealed there is a deep indigenous knowledge of wild stingless bee honey hunting practices. In addition, the study area has unique and diverse fauna and floras in which dominant flowering plants exist, that makes conducive environment for stingless bees. Hence, adopting stingless bee colony domestication technology is critical for increasing stingless bee production and productivity through sustainable honey production and conservation. In addition to it requires great attention from government, non-government organizations and concerned body should raise awareness about conservation, domestication, and sustainable use of these natural resources.

Keywords: Stingless bee, Ground-nesting, Indigenous knowledge, honey hunters