Neotropical Meliponini: the genus Ptilotrigona Moure, (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apinae). The Neotropical stingless bees genus Ptilotrigona Moure, 1951 is revised. Three species are recognized: Ptilotrigona occidentalis (Schulz, 1904), endemic to NW South America - from NW Ecuador to southern Darién -, and with one isolated population in Osa Peninsula - Costa Rica; P. pereneae (Schwarz, 1943), endemic to the western Amazon; and P. lurida (Smith, 1854), largely distributed in the Amazon region. Ptilotrigona lurida and P. pereneae are the only known stingless bees that store pollen in association with yeasts (Candida sp.) and produce little or no honey. Nests are described and illustrated. Holotypes of Trigona suffragata Cockerell, 1922 (syn. of P. occidentalis) and Trigona manni Cockerell, 1912, specimens of Trigona heideri Friese, 1900 (syns. of P. lurida) identified by Friese, and one paratype of Trigona (Tetragona) heideri pereneae Schwarz, 1943 were studied. New synonym: Ptilotrigona lurida (Smith, 1854) = Trigona mocsaryi lutea Friese, 1903 syn. nov. In the cladistic analysis, species of Camargoia Moure, 1989, and Tetragona Lepeletier & Serville, 1828, were used as outgroups; the hypothesis presented is the following: ((((Ptilotrigona lurida, P. pereneae) P. occidentalis)((Camargoia nordestina, C. pilicornis) C. camargoi)) Tetragona goettei). An identification key for the species and other bionomic aspects are also presented.
Candida; phylogeny; Ptilotrigona; stingless bees; taxonomy
