New stingless bee genus endemic to Central American cloudforests: phylogenetic and biogeographic implications (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) |
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| Authors: | DAVID ROUBIK,JORGE ARTURO,LOBO SEGURA,& JOÃ O MARIA FRANCO DE CAMARGO |
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| Affiliation: | Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republica de Panamá,;Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología, San José, Costa Rica ,;Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdad de Filosofia, Ciencias e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | 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 . |
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