Diversity of stingless bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) from Cambodia and Laos

Abstract

Stingless bees are restricted to the tropical regions of the world and are considered as important pollinators of various wild and cultivated plants. In the recent investigation, fourteen species of stingless bees are recognized in the dry season from Cambodia and Laos, which are congeners to the species from an adjoining country Thailand. Three species of stingless bees are recognized for the first time fromCambodia: Pariotrigona pendleburyi (Schwarz, 1939), Tetragonula sirindhornae (Michener and Boongird, 2004) and Tetrigona melanoleuca (Cockerell, 1929). Likewise, two species of the stingless bees are reported for the first time fromLaos: Lisotrigona furva Engel, 2000 and Tetragonula fuscobalteata (Cameron, 1908). Images of morphology and nesting behavior, checklist of stingless bees from Cambodia and Laos and short discussion on biology are provided.