ABSTRACT. Neotropical Meliponini: the genus Partamona Schwarz, 1939 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apinae) -bionomy and biogeography. This work, dedicated to the study of nesting habits of the species of the Neotropical genus Partamona Schwarz, is a sequence to the taxonomic revision recently published elsewhere. A total of 214 nests and nest aggregations of 18 species [Partamona epiphytophila

No abstract

2008A molecular phylogeny and the evolution of nest architecture and behavior in Trigona s.s.(Hymenoptera : Apidae : Meliponini) APIDOLOGIE, v.39, n Abstract -Stingless bees exhibit extraordinary variation in nest architecture within and among species.To test for phylogenetic association of behavioral traits for species of the Neotropical stingless bee genus Trigona s.s., a phylogenetic hypothesis was generated by combining sequence data of 24 taxa from one mitochondrial (16S rRNA) and four nuclear gene fragments (long-wavelength rhodopsin copy 1 (opsin), elongation factor-1α copy F2, arginine kinase, and 28S rRNA). Fifteen characteristics of the nest architecture were coded and tested for phylogenetic association. Several characters have significant phylogenetic signal, including type of nesting substrate, nest construction material, and hemipterophily, the tending of hemipteroid insects in exchange for sugar excretions. Phylogenetic independent habits encountered in Trigona s.s. include coprophily and necrophagy. molecular phylogeny / neotropical / stingless bee / behavior / nest

A systematic revision and biological account is given of the only apoid obligate necrophages, the Trigona hypogea group, along with descriptions of Trigona necrophaga sp. nov. and the male of Trzgona crassipes. Trigona necrophaga is endemic to eastern Panama and possibly the Chock 7. hypogea and T. crassipes are sympatric throughout the Amazon Basin and the Guianas. The lack of a corbicula on the hind leg and reduction of giant setae on the labial palpi, workers foraging upon carrion, lack of stored pollen in nests, and complete absence of pollen grains in larval provisions demonstrate obligate necrophagy in all three social, stingless bee species. Evolution of 1. bpogea and T. crassipes from a common ancestor in the Amazon Basin is postulated, and 1. necrophaga is likely to be an offshoot of 7. crassipes. Morphology links ' I : crassipes and 1. hypogea, but nest architecture joins necrophaga and crassipes. Facultative necrophagy in Trigona probably became obligate due to preadaptations including ( I ) massive forager recruitment via pheromone trails; (2) aggressive foraging on carrion exudates; (3) apical mandibular teeth; (4) rapid location of novel resources; (5) beneficial microbes in bee glandular secretions that metabolize protein and produce antibiotics, and (6) queen cells and food storage pots of the same size and close proximity. Accidental placement of regurgitated, partly-digested carrion in queen cells may have promoted admixture of hypopharyngeal glandular secretions and microbes with harvested liquid carrion. The most derived species, 7. necrophaga, may have additional mutualist microbes because only this species has distinctive grey-green protein, and five Bacillus species in food pots and brood cells. No unusual anatomical features were found in worker bees. All three species make sweet, clear honey that contains some pollen but is of unknown origin.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Neotropical Meliponini: the genus Ptilotrigona Moure, (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apinae). The Neotropical stingless bees genus Ptilotrigona Moure, 1951 is revised. Three species are recognized: Ptilotrigona occidentalis (Schulz, 1904), endemic to NW South America -from NW Ecuador to southern Darién -, and with one isolated population in Osa Peninsula -Costa Rica; P. pereneae (Schwarz, 1943), endemic to the western Amazon; and P. lurida (Smith, 1854), largely distributed in the Amazon region. Ptilotrigona lurida and P. pereneae are the only known stingless bees that store pollen in association with yeasts (Candida sp.) and produce little or no honey.