Trigona | |
---|---|
Trigona spinipes | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Superfamily: | Apoidea |
Family: | Apidae |
Subfamily: | Apinae |
Tribe: | Meliponini |
Genus: |
Trigona Jurine, 1807 |
Subgenera | |
Duckeola |
Duckeola
Frieseomelitta
Geotrigona
Heterotrigona
Homotrigona
Lepidotrigona
Papuatrigona
Tetragonula
Tetragonisca
Trigona
Trigona is the largest genus of stingless bees, formerly including many more subgenera than the present assemblage; many of these former subgenera have been elevated to generic status. There are approximately 150 species presently included in the genus, in 11 subgenera. They differ from those groups now excluded in only minor structural details, primarily of the hind leg.
Trigona species occur throughout the Neotropical region and also throughout the Indo-Australian region; as presently defined, no members of the genus occur in Africa.
Vulture bees consist of three Trigona species that are the only known bees not to be herbivores.