ARS | Publication request: Two new species of Paratrigona Schwarz and the male of Paratrigona ornaticeps (Schwarz) (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 30, 2011
Publication Date: July 25, 2011
Citation: Gonzalez, V.H., Griswold, T.L. 2011. Two new species of Paratrigona Schwarz and the male of Paratrigona ornaticeps (Schwarz) (Hymenoptera, Apidae). ZooKeys. 120(9):9-25.

Interpretive Summary: Stingless bees live in colonies and make honey like honey bees, but do not have a sting. Stingless bees are among the most commonly encountered bees in the tropics of the world, ranging from Mexico to Brazil and northern Argentina in the Americas. Stingless bees are both ecologically and economically important. They are among the major pollinators of many native and cultivated tropical plants; pollen, honey, and wax of some species have also been traditionally used by indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in rural areas across Latin America, thus representing an important source of income for these communities. Despite their importance many stingless bee species remain unknown to science. This paper presents descriptions and illustrations of two new species from Ecuador and Paraguay belonging to the genus Paratrigona, biological information on other little known species, and keys to distinguish the species. This information will help other bee researchers to recognize them in future bee surveys. This paper contributes to our understanding of the diversity and distribution of these important pollinators in the Americas.

Technical Abstract: Two distinctive new species of the Neotropical stingless bee genus Paratrigona Schwarz from Ecuador and Paraguay are described and figured. The Ecuadorian species, P. scapisetosa sp. n., belongs to the haeckeli-lineatifrons group and is easily distinguished from its congeners by the unique shape and pubescence of the antennal scape, which is distinctly convex on its outer margin and bears thick, long, simple hairs along its inner margin. The Paraguayan species, P. wasbaueri sp. n., belongs to the lineata group and is easily distinguished by the pattern of body pubescence in both sexes and male genitalic characters. The male of the Mesoamerican species P. ornaticeps is also described and figured. New geographical records for P. impunctata and P. opaca, and an updated key to the haeckeli-lineatifrons and lineata species groups also provided.