ON THE WINGS OF IDENTIFICATION: USE OF WINGS MORPHOMETRY IN Melipona SPECIES

Abstract

The Melipona genus has the highest bee species richness of in Brazil, and the group needs taxonomic revision. Due to the difficulties in identifying bee groups, methods to facilitate and improve the identification of species are sought. This work aims to utilize the wing morphometry to differenciate between Melipona species. Five species of the genus were studied: Melipona quadrifasciata; M. rufiventris; M. mandacaia; M. marginata and M. fasciculata, and the morphometry of wing venules was used. Nine venules were measured in each collected individual, six of forewings and three hindwings. The morphometry of wings of different species of Melipona, leads to groups of species upon measuring the venules and analyzing them together. For Melipona quadrifasciata, which features four different populations, individuals of these populations were grouped within the same species, with no significant differences at the population level. Thus, it is concluded that the morphology of bee wings is efficient to distinguish between species of the genus Melipona.