A new subgenus and three new species of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apinae: Meliponini) from India

Abstract

A new subgenus of stingless bees, Flavotetragonula Shanas, subgen. n. is established and three new species, Tetragonula (Flavotetragonula) calophyllae Shanas and Faseeh, n. sp., Tetragonula (Tetragonula) perlucipinnae Faseeh and Shanas, n. sp. and Tetragonula (Tetragonula) travancorica Shanas and Faseeh, n. sp. are described from southern India, based on workers. It is established that T. (Tetragonula) iridipennis (Smith, 1854) does not occur in India. The most widespread species in peninsular India is Tetragonula (Tetragonula) travancorica Shanas and Faseeh, n. sp. Keys to the subgenera of Tetragonula Moure, 1961 and species of Flavotetragonula and Tetragonula of the Indian subcontinent are provided. Additional information on the geographic range of the north Indian species T. ruficornis Smith (1870) is given. The descriptions of the species are supplemented with the characters of foreleg and hind wing.