Abstract
A new subgenus, Melipona (Meliponiella) (type-species: Melipona illustris Schwarz, 1932), is proposed to remedy the non-monophyly of M. (Eomelipona) . A key to the subgenera of Melipona , based on the worker caste, is provided.
Highlights
MATERIAL AND METHODS The studied specimens belong to the entomological collection of the Department of Zoology of the Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil (DZUP)
The new subgenus can be distinguished from M. (Eomelipona) and the remaining subgenera based on the key provided below
The species placed in M. (Eomelipona) by CAMARGO & PEDRO (2007) came out in four different places in the analyses conducted by RAMÍREZ ET AL. (2010)
Summary
The studied specimens belong to the entomological collection of the Department of Zoology of the Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil (DZUP). The general morphological terminology follows URBAN (1967), SILVEIRA et al (2002) and MICHENER (2007). (Fig. 1A–D) Type-species: Melipona illustris Schwarz, 1932. (Meliponiella) were previously considered as part of M. The new subgenus is the smallest main lineage within Melipona, with only four recognized species. They are the group with the smallest body size in the genus (Fig. 1). The new subgenus can be distinguished from M. (Eomelipona) and the remaining subgenera based on the key provided below The new subgenus can be distinguished from M. (Eomelipona) and the remaining subgenera based on the key provided below
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