Taxonomia e distribuição de Melipona (Michmelia) Moure, 1975 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) na Amazônia brasileira

Abstract

Melipona (Michmelia) Moure & Kerr, 1950 is the richest genus of stingless bee and one of the most important for meliponiculture. The subgenus has 36 valid species organized into three groups: M. fasciata, M. melanoventer and M. rufiventris. The last formal revision of the genus Melipona Illiger, 1806 was carried out more than 90 years ago and the current species groups have never been formally described or revised. The Amazon rainforest is one of the main centers of Meliponini diversity and, due to its large extension, it is estimated that there is still a large gap in knowledge about the group in this region. In this regard, using material from two collections, M. (Michmelia) from different locations in the Brazilian Amazon was studied in order to provide data on the taxonomic status and distribution of the species, focusing on the groups M. fasciata and M. melanoventer. A historical overview of the taxonomy of the subgenus was made, diagnoses were proposed from the morphology of the workers of the three groups of species of an identification key for the species that have registered occurrence in Brazil. All the subspecies of M. seminigra were elevated to species status, besides the description of three new species: M. picea sp. nov., M. atrofulva sp. nov. and M. fernandoi sp. nov. A synopsis of the species of the M. melanoventer group that occur in the Amazon was carried out with a key to the Brazilian species and the description of M. andreluizoi sp. nov. Furthermore, a new case of gynandromorphism occurring in M. flavolineata was described with a comparative review of cases in Meliponini.