NEW STINGLESS BEE GENUS ENDEMIC TO CENTRAL AMERICAN CLOUDFORESTS - PHYLOGENETIC AND BIOGEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS (HYMENOPTERA, APIDAE, MELIPONINI)

摘要

Meliwillea bivea gen.n., sp.n. is the only known stingless bee genus endemic to Central America. External morphology and male genitalia show affinity of Meliwillea with Scaptotrigona. Its plesiomorphies and current sympatry with Scaptotrigona suggest Meliwillea is relictual and diverged in montane habitat during the Tertiary, predating the Pleistocene connection between Central and South America which allowed immigration by Scaptotrigona. Addition of Meliwillea to the list of Neotropical genera changes the phylogenetic position of Nannotrigona, making it sister to Paratrigona instead of Scaptotrigona. [References: 35]