A new genus of minute stingless bees from Southeast Asia (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

By

Engel, Michael S.
Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong
Tran, Ngat Thi
Truong, Tuan Anh
Herrera Motta, Andrés F.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-3-16

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1089

Pages

53--72

Subjects

Apoidea , Lisotrigona , Meliponini , taxonomy , Vietnam

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1089.78000

 

Abstract

A new genus of minute stingless bees (Meliponini: Hypotrigonina) is described from Southeast Asia.EbaiotrigonaEngel & Nguyen,gen. nov., is based on the type speciesLisotrigona carpenteriEngel, recorded from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China. The species was previously considered an enigmatic member ofLisotrigonaMoure, but is removed to a new genus based on its unique male terminalia that differs considerably from that ofLisotrigonaand instead shares resemblances withAustroplebeiaMoure, and the presence of yellow maculation (also similar to that ofAustroplebeia). It is possible thatEbaiotrigonais the extant sister group ofAustroplebeia, but this requires confirmation by future phylogenetic analyses. Based on available biological observations,Ebaiotrigona carpentericould not be confirmed as lachryphagous as is well documented from the tear-drinking species ofLisotrigonaandPariotrigonaMoure.