Biology:Heterotrigona
Heterotrigona is a genus of stingless bees in the tribe Meliponini (family Apidae), native to Southeast Asia and adjacent regions.[1][2][3]
The genus was described by Schwarz in 1939. It comprises small to medium-sized species, morphologically close to the genus Homotrigona, but generally smaller and with reduced mandibles.[4]
Species of Heterotrigona are distributed mainly across South and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Borneo and the Philippines, extending to Papua New Guinea.[1] They are eusocial bees that nest in tree cavities or artificial structures and are widely used in meliponiculture for the production of honey, propolis, and as agricultural pollinators.[5]
The most well-known and economically important species is Heterotrigona itama (Cockerell, 1918), a predominantly black species widely managed in commercial colonies across Southeast Asia.[5]
Approximately 15 species are currently recognized.
Species
- Heterotrigona atricornis
- Heterotrigona bakeri
- Heterotrigona erythrogastra
- Heterotrigona flaviventris
- Heterotrigona hobbyi
- Heterotrigona itama
- Heterotrigona keyensis
- Heterotrigona lamingtonia
- Heterotrigona lieftincki
- Heterotrigona moorei
- Heterotrigona paradisaea
- Heterotrigona planifrons
- Heterotrigona taraxis
- Heterotrigona tricholoma
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Schwarz, H. F. (1939). "The Indo-Malayan species of Trigona" (in en). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 76 (3): 83–141. https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/items/8d4ef401-538c-4603-9137-637d46cd13d2. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- ↑ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Heterotrigona". https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=763687#null.
- ↑ "Heterotrigona Schwarz, 1939" (in en). https://www.gbif.org/species/1340719.
- ↑ Engel, M. S. (2023). "Stingless bee classification and biology (Hymenoptera, Apidae): a review, with an updated key to genera and subgenera" (in en). ZooKeys (1172): 239–312. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1172.104944. PMID 37547181. Bibcode: 2023ZooK.1172..239E.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wongsa, K. (2024). "Genetic structure of the commercial stingless bee Heterotrigona itama (Apidae: Meliponini) in Thailand" (in en). PLOS ONE 19 (12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0312386. PMID 39630652. Bibcode: 2024PLoSO..1912386W.
Wikidata ☰ Q14479386 entry
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