A new species of stingless bee (Apinae: Meliponini) is described from workers and two males recovered from nests in tree trunks in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. Tetragonula (Tetragonula) malaipanae, new species, resembles T. (T.) laeviceps (Smith), T. (T.) pagdeni (Schwarz), T. (T.) testaceitarsis (Cameron), and similar species, but is particularly similar to T. (T.) drescheri (Schwarz). Unlike T. drescheri, the new species lacks a defined black stripe on the underside of the metafemur, has the metatibia reddish brown to testaceous (rather than uniformly chestnut brown, and black with a yellow mark on the inner surface in T. drescheri). Characters of the uncommonly encountered T. (T.) sarawakensis (Schwarz) are also recorded.
INTRODUCTION
It is well known that the concentration of stingless bee (Apinae: Meliponini) diversity resides within South and Central America (Schwarz, 1948; Moure, 1951; Michener, 1990, 2007, 2013). Even so, Southeast Asia retains a remarkable and interesting fauna of diverse and often cryptically similar stingless bees (Moure, 1961; Sakagami, 1975, 1978; Sakagami and Inoue, 1985; Franck et al., 2004), including species with unique biologies generally divergent from those of other meliponines, such as the minute lachryphagous species of the genera Lisotrigona Moure and Pariotrigona Moure (Bänziger et al., 2009; Bänziger and Bänziger, 2010; Karunaratne et al., 2017). Most Asiatic Meliponini have traditionally been placed within the genus Trigona Jurine, with a broad circumscription and encompassing otherwise heterogeneous bees (e.g., Michener, 1990, 2007). However, as initially proposed by Moure (1961), further suggested by Michener (2000, 2007), and increasingly demonstrated by molecular and morphological studies (Rasmussen and Cameron, 2007, 2010), the Indo-Australian species of “Trigona” fall in a major clade independent from those of the true species of Trigona in the Neotropical Region.
The largest group of Indo-Australian “Trigona” has been placed in Tetragonula Moure, recognized in particular by the combined presence of a basal sericeous area on the inner metabasitarsal surface and the projection of the mesoscutellum over the propodeum (Moure, 1961; Sakagami, 1978). This group was characterized by Moure (1961) and Sakagami (1978), and has been treated as a subgenus of Trigona by Sakagami (1978), or as an outright genus by Moure (1961), Rasmussen (2008), Michener (2013), and the present authors. Michener (1990, 2000, 2007) united Tetragonula with several other groups under the name Trigona (Heterotrigona Schwarz), but because the species of Tetragonula are a readily recognized unit, that name was again used by Michener and Boongird (2004), albeit as a subgenus in Trigona. Here we regard Tetragonula as a genus, a practice consistent with the phylogenetic study of Rasmussen and Cameron (2007, 2010), the system proposed by Rasmussen, J.C. Thomas, and M.S.E. (in prep.), and in agreement with Rasmussen's (2008) checklist of Indo-Australian species of Meliponini.
The Asiatic species of Tetragonula were reviewed and characterized in considerable detail by Sakagami (1978), and then later extended for bicolorous species by Sakagami and Inoue (1985). The species of the genus are summarized in table 1. Many of them are similar to one another and often difficult to recognize, differing in minute aspects of coloration, size, and setation. In 2007 and 2008, several nests of a new species were found in the Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. We provide a characterization of the species here along with a few anecdotal notes on the occurrence of these nests in the hope of encouraging continued work on the biology of the species.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Specimens were collected from nest entrances and flowers and were examined dry, mounted on points or pinned, with material deposited in the following institutional repositories:
AMNH
Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York (J.G. Rozen, Jr.)
BBSL
Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Utah State University, Logan (T.L. Griswold)
CNIN
Colección Nacional de Insectos, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico (I.A. Hinojosa-Díaz)
CSCA
California State Collection of Arthropods, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento (K. Williams)
DZUP
Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (G.A.R. Melo)
EMBT
Entomological Museum Bangkok Thailand, Insect Taxonomy Group, Department of Agriculture, Bangkok (Y. Boontop)
FSCA
Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville (E. Talamas)
ICNC
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Santa Fé de Bogotá (F. Fernández)
KSMA
King Saud Museum of Arthropods, Department of Plant Protection, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (A.S. Alqarni)
KUEC
Entomological Laboratory, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (O. Tadauchi)
LIPI
Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Bogor, Indonesia (S. Kahono, P. Djunijanti).
NHML
Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London (D.G. Notton) SANG South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria (C.D. Eardley)
SEMC
Division of Entomology (Snow Entomological Collection), University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence (M.S. Engel)
USNM
Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History (United States National Museum), Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (B. Harris)
ZMHB
Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin (M. Ohl)
ZISP
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg (Yu. Astafurova, S. Belokobylskij)
In reporting material examined, we have employed standard symbols for eusocial castes, specifically 
for the sterile female workers.
Morphological terminology generally follows that of Sakagami (1978), Engel (2001), and Michener (2007). Abbreviations used are: OD, ocellar diameter, used as a measurement of certain structures; and S, and T, respectively metasomal sternum and metasomal tergum, such that S6, for example, refers to the sixth metasomal sternum. Measurements were made with an ocular micrometer in an Olympus SZX12 stereomicroscope. In the description, mean values are provided with ranges from 20 workers indicated in parentheses and ranges for the two available males when the values differed between them. Measurements of the metatibial length and of the forewing diagonal (Sakagami's “WL2”) from the base of vein M to the base of crossvein r-rs were made as illustrated by Sakagami (1978: figs. 1, 2). In the account of the worker caste, descriptive material placed in brackets represents observed variation among individuals in the type series.
TABLE 1.
Hierarchical and synonymic checklist of species of Tetragonula Moure (Meliponini).
SYSTEMATICS
Genus Tetragonula Moure, 1961
Subgenus Tetragonula Moure, 1961
Tetragonula
(Tetragonula
) malaipanae,
new species
Figures 1–3
Diagnosis: The species generally agrees with the subgeneric characterization as presented by Sakagami (1978). Worker dark but paler than Tetragonula laeviceps (Smith, 1857), T. pagdeni (Schwarz, 1939), and T. pagdeniformis (Sakagami, 1978) (figs. 1A, 1B), clypeus yellowish (fig. 1C), legs partly or wholly red brown or testaceous (fig. 1A). Size similar to that of T. testaceitarsis (Cameron, 1901) (likely senior synonym of T. valdezi [Cockerell, 1918]), larger than T. laeviceps (as restricted by Rasmussen and Michener, 2010), T. pagdeni, and T. pagdeniformis (see Discussion, below). Mesoscutum with pale pubescence not or weakly banded (fig. 1B), sublateral bare bands not or scarcely recognizable. Setae of body largely pale, but those of vertex, especially behind ocelli, blackish or sometimes dusky. Mean metatibial length 1.81 mm, mean forewing length including tegula 4.58 mm, mean head width 1.90 mm. Male generally colored as in worker (fig. 2), with S5 lacking gradulus (fig. 3C), apical process of S6 long and parallel sided (fig. 3D), S7 and T7 sharply pointed apically (figs. 3B, 3E); genitalia with penis valves and gonostyli directed posteriorly (figs. 3F, 3H), sclerotization probably representing gonobase across base (figs. 3F, 3H).
Description: Worker. Body length 3.92 mm (3.50–4.70 mm); forewing length, including tegula, 4.58 mm (4.40–4.70 mm); head length from anterior margin of clypeus to summit of vertex, in facial view 1.42 mm (1.40–1.50 mm); head width 1.91 mm (1.75–2.00 mm); metatibia length 1.82 mm (1.63–1.88 mm); forewing diagonal from base of vein M to base of crossvein r-rs at margin of pterostigma 1.31 mm (1.23–1.38 mm). Scape (excluding basal bulb) more than half as long as compound eye; flagellomere IV slightly broader than long. Ocelloccipital distance over half OD, ocellocular distance less than interocellar distance. Genal area widest at about upper third of compound eye, and narrower than compound eye in profile. Metatibia and metabasitarsus shaped as usual in this group (see Sakagami, 1978: fig. 2); basal sericeous area at base of inner surface of metabasitarsus well defined, reaching to middle of metabasitarsus [variable, not attaining middle or extending beyond middle]. Metasoma short, about as wide as head, widest at T2 and T3, remaining terga progressively much narrower and largely telescoped into preceding segments. Cuticular surface polished and shining with few minute punctures or setal bases.
Head black, the following parts yellow testaceous [to reddish testaceous or pale yellowish brown] : clypeus except dusky upper and upper lateral margins [entire clypeus commonly yellowish], supraclypeal area [sometimes dusky or blackish], mandible except blackish apex and extreme base, and labrum. [Lower genal area and hypostomal area behind mandibular base sometimes weakly brownish, grading into black background]. Antenna yellowish [to reddish] testaceous, flagellum blackish [or dusky] on upper surface, on lower surface part of each flagellomere dusky [or not]. Thorax black except pronotum dark brown [to blackish], pronotal lobe dusky testaceous [to black], mesoscutellum brownish [or black], [mesepisternum sometimes brownish black], anterolateral part of mesepisternum brown [to black]. Legs (including coxae and trochanters) reddish brown, meso- and metatibiae and tarsi dark reddish brown [or rarely legs testaceous or legs blackish brown, sometimes only mid and hind legs dark, inner surface of metatibia and metatarsus and often basal part of metafemur reddish brown]. Tegula dusky testaceous. Wings clear, faintly dusky, veins and pterostigma blackish. Metasoma with T1 dusky brown [brown], anterior surface largely testaceous; T5 and T6 [sometimes on T6] testaceous [brown or dusky] ; T2 and T4 [sometimes also T5] brownish black, posterior margins paler translucent [posterior part of T1 sometimes similarly dark]. [Sometimes, especially specimens from nests 6 and 9, with all terga testaceous, posterior ones darker than anterior ones]. Metasomal sterna testaceous [brown, sometimes slightly dusky].
Pubescence decumbent and pallid except as otherwise noted, mostly ochraceous; clypeus without erect simple setae, even lower margin without such setae. Setae of face short (0.5 OD), plumose, rather dense but not hiding surface, particularly sparse and thin on lower paraocular area, whitish, those of frons [or upper half of frons] brownish to yellowish and hence inconspicuous in certain views; erect setae of scape absent except for exceedingly short ones; longer setae (1 OD) of vertex, especially behind ocelli, blackish or dusky; short pale setae of mesoscutum weakly [or not recognizably] banded. When recognizable, median asetose band (“Gl” of Sakagami, 1978) narrow, extending full length of mesoscutum except anterior extremity, G2 similarly narrow anteriorly but broadening and diverging posteriorly, G3 (lateral asetose band) poorly defined, especially on anterior half of mesoscutum [not recognizable except in some fresh, clean specimens]; longer, erect setae of mesoscutum (2 OD) pale or in certain illuminations dusky; fringe of long setae (up to 3 OD) on posterior margin of mesoscutellum ochraceous, with longest setae (3–4 OD) sometimes appearing dusky; metepisternum, side of propodeum, and anterior half of mesepisternum covered with dense white setae hiding surface [those of mesepisternum sometimes ochraceous]; some setae of outer surfaces of meso- and metatibiae and basitarsi dusky [commonly most setae of these parts, including large simple discal setae of corbicula, black or blackish]; anterior fringe of corbicula with a few [nearly all] setae dusky or blackish. T1 smooth and asetose; T2 to T5 smooth and asetose except for preapical very sparse bands, that of T2 consisting of only a few minute ochraceous setae, those of following terga with progressively more and longer setae, a few of those of T4 reaching beyond apical margin of tergum, those of T5 and T6 still longer, but all small and not conspicuous; setae of sterna denser and longer, almost white.
Male. Agrees with description of worker except for variation noted above in brackets, in measurements provided, and as follows (except for measurements, description based on male collected from nest 4 on 17 September 2007): body length 4.50 mm; forewing length, including tegula, 4.45 mm (4.40–4.50 mm); head length (measured as for worker) 1.40 mm; head width 1.78 mm; metatibia length 1.46 mm (1.43–1.48 mm); forewing diagonal (measured as for worker) 1.26 mm (1.25–1.27 mm).
Scape (excluding basal bulb) slightly less than half as long as compound eye. Flagellomere 4 (also 2–10) longer than broad. Ocelloccipital distance less than half OD; ocellocular distance about half of interocellar distance. Metatibia widest at about apical third, narrowed at apex, without plumose setae (fig. 3A). Metasomal T7 without Y-shaped ridge, apex broadly rounded (fig. 3B); S5 short, without noticeable gradulus, with shallow, broad, midapical emargination (fig. 3C); apical process of S6 slender, parallel sided (fig. 3D); terminalia as illustrated in figures 3D–3H; unbroken, weakly sclerotized band in position of gonobase (fig. 3F); long membranous midventral genital process present (figs. 3G, 3H), presumably fragmentum from base of penis; penis valves and gonostyli directed posteriorly (figs. 3F, 3H); gonostylus arising near outer distal margin of gonocoxite (figs. 3F, 3H), flattened, so that in lateral view it is rather broad and subapically constricted (fig. 3H), in dorsal view very slender apically.
Pale areas of head yellowish brown, upper median part of supraclypeal area black. Genal and hypostomal areas black. Flagellum black. Pronotum including pronotal lobe, mesoscutellum, and mesepisternum black. Legs yellowish brown, distal parts of femora, basal parts of tibiae, and distal parts of meso- and metatibia infuscated. Metasoma with T1 testaceous, with broad preapical dusky band; remaining terga cleared for study but apparently dusky testaceous (note that when dissected the metasoma appears pale testaceous).
Pubescence generally thinner and sparser than in female, particularly on clypeus, mesoscutellum, and mesepisternum; pubescence of head, mesosoma, and legs largely ochraceous. Mesoscutum almost without banding of setae; setae of mesepisternum and sides of propodeum white, somewhat less dense than in worker; dense setae of anterior part of mesepisternum dusky.
Holotype: , Thailand, Kanchanaburi [Province], Thong Pha Phum [District], 17.ix.2007 [17 September 2007], Y. Boontop, nest 2 (SEMC). The holotype is from nest number 2 in Boontop's records, a site 549 m above sea level at coordinates 14.42° N, 98.28° E.
Paratypes (2♂♂, 340
): 1♂, same data as holotype except nest 4 (SEMC); 1♂, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 11 (SEMC); 24, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 1(16 SEMC, 2 CSCA, 2 DZUP, 2 EMBT, 2 ICNC); 11, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 1 (SEMC); 18, same data as holotype (16 SEMC, 2 EMBT); 17, same data as holotype except 12. iii.2008 [12 March 2008] (9 SEMC, 4 AMNH, 2 BBSL, 2 CNIN); 24, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] (16 SEMC, 2 NHML, 2 SANC, 2 USNM, 2 EMBT); 8, same data as holotype except nest 3 (SEMC); 13, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 3 (SEMC); 1499, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 3 (10 SEMC, 2 ZMHB, 2 ZISP); 2, same data as holotype except nest 4 (SEMC); 12, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 4 (10 SEMC, 2 KSMA); 11, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 4 (SEMC); 2, same data as holotype except nest 5 (SEMC); 14, same data as holotype except 12. iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 5 (11 SEMC, 3 EMBT); 15, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 5 (11 SEMC, 2 KUEC, 2 EMBT); 5, same data as holotype except 31.vii.2006 [31 July 2006] and nest 6 (SEMC); 9, same data as holotype except nest 6 (SEMC); 15, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 6 (13 SEMC, 1 FSCA, 1 LIPI); 21, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 6 (19 SEMC, 1 FSCA, 1 LIPI); 5, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 7 (SEMC); 12, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 7 (SEMC); 5, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 8 (SEMC); 9, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 9 (SEMC); 5, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 10 (SEMC); 4, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 10 (SEMC); 14, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 11 (SEMC); 3, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 11 (SEMC); 6, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 12 (SEMC); 3, same data as holotype except 27.vii.2009 [27 July 2009] and nest 12 (SEMC); 8, same data as holotype except 12.iii.2008 [12 March 2008] and nest 13 (SEMC); 2, same data as holotype except 31.vii.2006 [31 July 2006] and nest 19 (SEMC); 2, same data as holotype except 17.ix.2007 [17 September 2007] (SEMC).
Additional material: A further six workers are remarkably similar to T. malaipanae and we tentatively include them here, pending further work on these more southern populations, particularly utilizing morphometrics, males, and DNA data: 4, Thailand, Nakhonsithammarat, Khao Laung, 3.V.2007 [3 May 2007], Y. Boontop, nest 11 [a site 359 m above sea level at coordinates 8.49° N, 99.78° E] (SEMC); 2, Thailand, Suratthani, Khao sok, 3.V.2007 [3 May 2007], Y. Boontop, nest 15 [a site 421 m above sea level at coordinates 8.91° N, 98.52° E] (SEMC).
Comments: Probably variation in coloration of males is more or less comparable to that of workers. The male taken 12 March 2008 at nest number 11 differs from the male described above as follows: integument of head and mesosoma (including clypeus and tegula) black; scape and pedicel reddish brown; legs dusky pale brown; meso- and metatarsi and distal parts of tibiae blackish, palest areas on outer and posterior surfaces of protibia and basal parts of meso- and metatibiae; metasoma reddish brown with vague transverse dusky areas, apical terga darker; membranous midventral genital process not evident (likely a result of damage during dissection).
Etymology: The specific epithet honors Savitree Malaipan of the Department of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, beloved mentor of Y.B. and a prominent Thai melittologist.
FIGURE 1.
Worker of Tetragonula malaipanae, new species. A. Lateral habitus. B. Dorsal habitus. C. Facial view.
FIGURE 2.
Male of Tetragonula malaipanae, new species (specimen with metasoma dissected). A. Lateral habitus. B. Dorsal habitus. C. Facial view.
FIGURE 3.
Male of Tetragonula malaipanae, new species. A. Outer view of metatibia and metabasitarsis. B. Dorsal view of T7 (arrow indicates the position of the spiracle on the side of the sclerite). C. Ventral view of S5. D. Ventral view of S6. E. Ventral view of S7. F. Male genitalia (dorsal view at left, ventral view at right), distal part of membranous aedeagus omitted. G. Midventral membranous process. H. Male genitalia in right lateral view.
Tetragonula (Tetragonula) sarawakensis (Schwarz, 1937)
Trigona sarawakensis Schwarz, 1937: 313. Cotype workers (AMNH, examined by M.S.E. and C.D.M.).
Trigona (Tetragona) sarawakensis var. sarawakensis Schwarz; Schwarz, 1939: 106.
Tetragonula sarawakensis (Schwarz); Moure, 1961: 210.
Trigona (Tetragonula) sarawakensis (Schwarz); Sakagami, 1978: 210.
Since this is not a well-known species, we include below notes based on a series of workers in the AMNH, two labeled as cotypes, and include comparative information on T. malaipanae in brackets.
Descriptive notes: Setae of clypeus and lower face minute, minutely if at all plumose, not at all hiding smooth surface [broadly plumose, partially hiding surface which shows some punctation]; tegula ferruginous [dark testaceous, sometimes grading to dusky especially near inner margin]; mesoscutellum with posterior extremity (overhanging propodeum) with transverse yellow mark (sometimes ferruginous, perhaps artificially darkened in such instances owing to method of collection or changes resulting from long-term preservation) [no such mark or if mark recognizable, testaceous or dusky]; legs ferruginous [usually dull ferruginous or brown with dusky areas at least on meso- and metatibiae]; setae of legs whitish or yellowish, sometimes a few dusky setae on tibiae and basitarsi [some setae on tibiae and basitarsi dusky or blackish, large simple setae arising from corbicular surface black or dusky although marginal setae largely or partly yellowish]; metasoma entirely ferruginous [dusky brown to testaceous].
Material examined (7): 1 [cotype], Sarawak, Mt. Dulit, 4000 ft, moss forest, 18.X.1932 [18 October 1932], Oxford Univ. Exp. B.M. Hobby & A.W. Moore (AMNH); 1 [cotype], same data as preceding specimen except 19.X.1932 [19 October 1932] (AMNH); 5, Mt. Tibang [Mount Tibang, Sarawak, near border with Kalimantan], 1300 m, Borneo, Nov. 1925, Eric Mjöberg (AMNH).
DISCUSSION
In Sakagami's (1978) key based on workers, T. malaipanae runs best to T. laeviceps or T. sarawakensis. The latter is rather different as indicated in the section above on that species. Tetragonula laeviceps in the sense of Sakagami (1978) is probably at least two species, as Sakagami himself suggested. Rasmussen and Michener (2010) indicated probable separation of a smaller form (T. laeviceps proper) and a larger form (here called T. testaceitarsis [Cameron] of which T. valdezi [Cockerell] is a probable junior synonym). Tetragonula malaipanae is the size of T. testaceitarsis. It differs from that species (as well as from T. laeviceps) by the entirely or almost entirely yellowish testaceous clypeus and the extensively reddish brown or sometimes testaceous legs. Trigona malaipanae is, however, more similar to the bicolorous species dealt with by Sakagami and Inoue (1985). Of the species listed above, only T. sarawakensis is bicolorous and distinguished by the features referenced. Tetragonula malaipanae is most similar to T. drescheri (Schwarz, 1939), a species characterized by a sharply defined black stripe on the underside of each femur, the largely chestnut brown outer surface of the metatibia, and the black inner surface of the metatibia except for a well-defined, large oval yellow spot on the inner metatibial ridge. These features are not found in T. malaipanae. Some of the individuals that Sakagami and Inoue (1985: figs. 16,17) considered as pale forms of T. laeviceps may have been T. malaipanae.
If, following Sakagami's (1978) key based on workers, one incorrectly goes to couplet 6 (pale setae of mesoscutum strongly banded), T. malaipanae does not lead clearly to any species. The possibilities are T. hirashimai (Sakagami, 1978), T. minor (Sakagami, 1978), T. pagdeniformis (Sakagami), T. pagdeni (Schwarz), and T. iridipennis (Smith, 1854). The last is restricted to Sri Lanka and India. Workers of the four remaining species, all of which occur in Southeast Asia including Thailand, differ in size, such that they can often be recognized superficially. Of these species, T. minor is the smallest (forewing length including tegula less than 3.8 mm) and T. hirashimai is the largest (forewing more than 4.9 mm). The other two species are intermediate, with forewing lengths from 3.9 to 4.5 mm. Tetragonula malaipanae falls with this latter group, with forewing lengths from 4.4 to 4.7 mm. Head width is similarly different, ranging for T. pagdenformis and T. pagdeni from 1.6 to 1.8 mm, and for T. malaipanae from 1.8 to 1.9 mm. In size, the new species agrees best with T. testaceitarsis.
FIGURE 4.
A large Ficus L. (Moraceae) containing a nest of Tetragonula malaipanae, new species. A. Photo of the tree. B. Detail of nest entrance showing guard bees (from nest 2 in 2007 at the type locality in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province).
Most workers of T. malaipanae differ from those of T. pagdeniformis and T. pagdeni, as well as T. hirashimai and T. minor, in paler coloration. In specimens of T. malaipanae the clypeus, labrum, and usually the supraclypeal area are largely or entirely yellowish to reddish testaceous and the legs are entirely or partly reddish brown. Rarely the legs are blackish with only the inner surface of the metatibia reddish brown. In the other species listed above these parts are largely black or brownish black.
The male (only two specimens) has large areas on the legs yellowish brown to dusky testaceous. The clypeus is yellowish testaceous to black. The terminalia differ from those of T. laeviceps and T. testaceitarsis in characters listed in the description above, summarized as follows: shape and lack of gradulus of S5 (fig. 3C), the apical process of S6 (fig. 3D), and the acute apices of S7 (fig. 3E) and T7 (fig. 3B). In both males of T. malaipanae the penis valves are subparallel, convergent posteriorly, while in all males seen of T. laeviceps and T. testaceitarsis they are directed laterally, in opposite directions. In Sakagami's (1978) key to the known males, T. malaipanae runs to T. laeviceps (probably including T. testaceitarsis) and T. pagdeniformis. In T. malaipanae the gonostylus is very slightly swollen apically and slightly constricted preapically in certain views (figs. 3F, 3H), as in T. pagdeniformis shown by Sakagami (1978: his figures 87, 98).
At sites specified above, at least 15 nests of T. malaipanae were found, with most specimens obtained from nest entrances as they attempted to depart. The nests were in trunks of large living trees of Ficus L. (Moraceae) within forests of mostly smaller trees. The Ficus trees inhabited by T. malaipanae were 20–30 m in height and 155–211 cm in trunk diameter at breast height. Nest entrances varied in height from near the ground to 5.4 m above the ground surface. The trees appear to have developed as stranglers with many parts forming the trunks (fig. 4A); presumably the bee nests are in cavities among these parts or within the old, interior trunk. We have not, however, felled trees or opened nests for study. The nest entrances are variable, rather irregular, of gray to black resinous material, almost circular to much elongate (e.g., fig. 4B). The following are diameters of some entrance openings, two diameters at right angles per nest: 1.5 × 2.5 cm; 1.7 × 2.9 cm; 2.5 × 2.8 cm; 3.0 × 3.5 cm; 1.3 × 3.9 cm. The entrances are consistently large in diameter compared to the bees, so that several bees take positions, looking outward, on the inner surfaces of the openings. Entrances sometimes project little above the surface of the trunk, but also often extend as tubes up to 5 cm in length adhering to the surface of the trunk. The outer surfaces of such tubes are irregularly nodulose while the inner surfaces are smoother, and while the openings are sometimes irregular, the lower portion often extends as a broad lip serving as a point of departure and landing for the bees. Irregular openings may be the result of earlier damage to entrances. The entrances commonly are within or arise from areas of batumen (Wille and Michener, 1973; Wille, 1983) that close originally larger openings into the cavities occupied by the nests.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For the loan of cotypes and other specimens of T. sarawakensis from Borneo we thank Jerome G. Rozen, Jr. (AMNH), and for the loan of other relevant type specimens we are grateful to David Notton (NHML) and Brian Harris (USNM). Production of figures was supported by the Engel Illustration Fund, University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with Chulwoo Shin assisting photomicrography and line drawings prepared by Sara L. Taliaferro. We thank Mrs. Sirinee Poonchaisri of the Entomological Museum, Bangkok, for kind assistance, and two anonymous referees for their comments on the manuscript. This is a contribution of the Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum.
