Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

The abundant members of the Meliponini (stingless bees) are restricted to the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Because past studies of the anatomy of their mature larvae are limited, revealing little anatomical variation in the tribe, the current investigation attempts to examine this topic more thoroughly. Herein we describe the mature larvae of 30 species representing 16 genera of a total world fauna of perhaps 32 genera. Although the larvae of most taxa show little anatomical diversity, two species, Trigona (Duckeola) ghilianii Spinola and Trigona (Frieseomelitta) varia (Lepeletier), have mature larvae that differ remarkably in anatomical structure from those of other known stingless bees, and, further, their individual anatomies suggest a close evolutionary relationship. Larval evidence is presented indicating that Trichotrigona extranea (Camargo and Moure) is also related to these two taxa. Because eggs are often included in collections of bee larvae, this study adds descriptions of the eggs of 11 species of the Meliponini not previously characterized as well as a list of those that had been treated earlier.

Corey SMITH, Museum Specialist, American Museum of Natural History, New York, Division of Invertebrate Zoology

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Variation the oviposition behavior by the stingless bee, Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) - ScienceDirect

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Diagram of entire mature larva of Trigonisca (Trigonisca) mepecheu

INTEGUMENTAL MICROSTRUCTURES OF STINGLESS BEES (APOIDEA: APIDAE: MELIPONINI)

Intratribal Variation among Mature Larvae of Stingless Bees (Apidae: Meliponini) with Descriptions of the Eggs of 11 Species

Diagram of entire mature larva of Trigonisca (Trigonisca) mepecheu