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An extraordinary concentration of stingless bee colonies in the Philippines, with notes on nest structure (Hymenoptera: Apidae:Trigona spp.)

Eine Auberordentliche Anhäufung von Kolonien von Stachellosen Bienen auf den Philippinen, mit Bemerkungen über Neststruktur (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Trigona Spp.)

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Summary

A bamboo farmhouse on Negros island, Philippines harbored at least 84 colonies ofTrigona (Tetragonula) fuscobalteata andT. (Tetragonula) sapiens in a ratio of about 3∶1.

Nests were in bamboo stem cavities of 0.7–3.0 1 volume. In neither species does The nest show specialized features relative to the subfamily. The entrance tube is simple and of medium length. The tube aperture is longer and narrower inT. sapiens thanT. fuscobalteata, although the former species has a greater head-width. Brood-cells are arranged in clusters, not in organized combs, and are not surrounded by an involucrum. p There is some indication that within the Philippines stingless bees are more abundant in drier areas.

Zusammenfassung

Auf der Insel Negros, Philippinen, wurde ein aus Bambus gebautes Bauernhaus entdeckt, das mindestens 84 Kolonien von stachellosen Bienen beherbergte, und zwar der beiden ArtenTrigona (Tetragonula) fuscobalteata undT. (Tetragonula) sapiens in einem Verhältnis von ungefähr 3∶1.

Die Nester waren in Bambussegmenten, je mit einem Rauminhalt von 0,7–3,0 1. Die Neststruktur entspricht generell dem Typus der Unterfamilie. Die Flugröhre ist einfach und nicht besonders lang. Die Röhrenöffnung ist beiT. sapiens länger und enger als beiT. fuscobalteata, obwohlT. sapiens einen breiteren Kopf besitzt. Die Brutzellen sind nicht in Waben angeordnet, sondern bilden traubenförmige Haufen. Sie sind auch nicht von einem Involucrum umgegeben.

Es gibt Hinweise, daß stachellosen Bienen in trockenen Gebieten der Philippinen häufiger vorkommen.

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Author notes

  1. C. K. Starr

    Present address: Dept. of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, 20560, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

    C. K. Starr

  2. Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, 060, Sapporo, Japan

    S. F. Sakagami

Authors
  1. C. K. Starr
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  2. S. F. Sakagami
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Starr, C.K., Sakagami, S.F. An extraordinary concentration of stingless bee colonies in the Philippines, with notes on nest structure (Hymenoptera: Apidae:Trigona spp.). Ins. Soc 34, 96–107 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223828

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223828

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