First Report of Tetragonula calophyllae Shanas & Faseeh 2019 (Apidae: Apinae: Meliponini) from Goa State, India
Arya Krishna
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala 695522, India.
Anitha N.
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala 695522, India.
Santhosh Kumar T.
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala 695522, India.
Swapna Alex
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala 695522, India.
Pratheesh P. G.
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala 695522, India.
Shanas S. *
Integrated Farming System Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The occurrence of Tetragonula calophyllae Shanas & Faseeh 2019, in Goa state, India, is reported for the first time. Morphometric comparison between T. calophyllae workers from Goa and Type series are provided along with comments on the external nest entrance. The need for developing baseline database on species distribution is stressed for developing policies for conservation planning and climate adaptation strategies for future.
Keywords: Stingless bees, nomenclature, taxonomy, distribution, diversity