Species diversity, morphometrics, and nesting biology of Chinese stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

Abstract

Stingless bees (Meliponini) form a large monophyletic group with a pantropical distribution. Southern China is on the northern border of this distribution in Asia, and previous studies have recorded a single species in Taiwan and twelve species in Yunnan. In this study, by extensive sampling from both natural nests and the nests of bee keepers in Yunnan, we identified seven stingless bee species from four genera. Species with distinctive characters that were recorded in Xishuangbanna previously but not found during this study may be rare in this region, including Homotrigona lutea and Geniotrigona thoracica. A new key, information on nesting biology, and a snapshot of the current status of meliponiculture in Yunnan are provided. Morphological characters of males of Tetragonula laeviceps, Tetragonilla collina, and Lisotrigona carpenteri are shown, including their genitalia characters. Results of multivariate morphometrics based on twelve characters support the taxonomic classification. For further studies, wider sampling, including tropical and subtropical regions of Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan, Tibet, Hainan, and Taiwan, is needed to assess the full diversity of Chinese stingless bees.