Diversity, distribution, and nest characteristics of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Rachmawati RD, Agus A, Umami N, Asgussalim, Purwanton H. 2022. Diversity, distribution, and nest characteristics of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 3890-3901. Baluran National Park is a conservation area located in Situbondo, East Java. It has become a natural habitat for many animals, including stingless bees. Stingless bees, known as klanceng in Java, are eusocial insects that produce honey and play an important role as pollinators. This study aimed to explore the diversity of stingless bees in BNP, East Java. Two species of stingless bees were found in nine sites with various types of habitats: teak forest, secondary forest, evergreen, savanna, mangrove, and settlements. Based on their morphological and morphometric characteristics, the bees were identified as Lepidotrigona terminata and Tetragonula laeviceps. The results of species identification were confirmed by molecular analysis using the 16S rRNA gene from mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid. Furthermore, we described the distinction of nest entrance appearances of stingless bees from their natural nest and beehive in meliponiculture. The stingless bee Tetragonula laeviceps is considered an adaptive stingless bee because it is distributed in all types of habitats in this study. These data would add information to the biology and distribution of stingless bee species in Indonesia, especially in Java Island, and provide bases for their utilization in the future.