Notes on taxonomy and nest architecture of the Taiwanese stingless bee Trigona (Lepidotrigona) ventralis hoozana
摘要
Observations on the taxonomy and nest architecture of the Taiwanese stingless bee Trigona (Lepidotrigona) ventralis hoozana Strand revealed the following results: (1) The Taiwanese population is subspecifically distinct from the continental ones by developed mesosomal tomenta, pale apical terga and larger body size. (2) Post-emergence pigmentation is distinguished in seven stages. Brood rearing and egg laying activities are mainly carried out by workers of stages Ha - Ha. (3) This bee is now confined to the primary forests in high mountains, where the climate is unusually severe for the sting-less bees. Nests are mostly built in aboveground tree hollows. (4) Brood cells are arranged in horizontal complete combs, which are independent from each other and seldom spirally arranged. Combs are completely covered with involu-crum of sheeted type. (5) Population size of an examined nest was large, with ca. 10000 adults. (6) Guards are timid, mildly attacking the observers only when nests are