5 articles
Australian native bees
Australian native bees: over 1,600 to about 2,000 indigenous bee species, from 24 mm carpenter bees to 2 mm Quasihesma, mostly solitary, with 11 eusocial stingless species (Tetragonula, Austroplebeia) that pollinate crops and native plants.
Tetragonisca angustula
Tetragonisca angustula, the jataí or angelita, is a 4–5 mm Neotropical stingless bee (Meliponini) kept for honey, with two distinct entrance-guard castes, colonies of 2,000–10,000 workers, and nests in tree or human-made cavities.
Tetragonula carbonaria
Tetragonula carbonaria, formerly Trigona carbonaria and known as the sugarbag bee, is a stingless social bee from coastal Queensland to New South Wales, known for its unique spiral brood comb and backyard hives.
Tetragonula iridipennis
Tetragonula iridipennis, formerly Trigona iridipennis, is a stingless bee native to India, widely called the dammar bee, valued for pollinating horticultural crops and producing sour pot honey.
Trigona spinipes
Trigona spinipes (irapuá, arapuá) is a stingless Brazilian bee with huge colonies (~92,500 bees), aerial resin-and-fiber nests, roles as both major pollinator and crop pest, and high insecticide sensitivity via trophallaxis.