Tetragonula mellipes

Tetragonula mellipes
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Apidae
Genus:	Tetragonula
Species:	T. mellipes
Binomial name
Tetragonula mellipes Friese, 1898
Map showing the estimated current distribution of T. mellipes in Australia
Synonyms
Trigona mellipes Friese, 1898 Trigona (Tetragona) mellipes Michener, 1965

Tetragonula mellipes is a small eusocial stingless bee first described by Friese in 1898[1] and it is found in Northern Australia (Northern areas of Western Australia and Northern Territory).[2]

Description and identification

The workers (3.6-4.3mm) are pale brown with sides of the thorax (Mesopleuron and metapleuron) densely and evenly covered with fine, short hair. Male drone body colour is very similar to the workers.[2] T. mellipes is distinctly smaller than the sympatric T. hockingsi in most characters. However, it is similar to the apparently allopatric T. carbonaria, except it has shorter wings.[2] Furthermore, when alive, the eyes are paler in colour compared to the darker eyes of T. carbonaria and T. hockingsi.

Nest building

The nests of T. mellipes are irregular and small.[3] T. mellipes can be found nesting in small cavities inside trees and stone walls. It has a semi-comb arrangement of brood. The brood is also smaller, typically being less than half a litre compared with the average 2 litres of its relatives.[4] Most T. mellipes nests have external entrance tunnels and some nests may have more than one entrance (up to four).[2]

References

1. Friese, H. (1898). "Die Trigona-Arten Australiens". Természetrajzi Füzetek. 21 (3–4): 427–431.
2. Dollin, Anne E.; Dollin, Leslie J.; Sakagami, the late Shôichi F. (1997). "Australian stingless bees of the genus Trigona (Hymenoptera: Apidae)". Invertebrate Systematics. 11 (6): 861. doi:10.1071/it96020. ISSN 1445-5226.
3. Dollin, Anne (2012). "Exploring Western Australia" (PDF). Aussie Bee. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
4. Heard, Tim (2016). The Australian native bee book : keeping stingless bee hives for pets, pollination and sugarbag honey. West End, Brisbane, Qld. ISBN 978-0-646-93997-1. OCLC 910915206.