Morphological Characteristics Of "Teuweul Omas" (Trigona Sp.: Hymenoptera) From West Java

Abstract

Stingless bees (Meliponini: Apidae) are eusocial insect with a highly organized system. Stingless bees are characterized by complex communication, permanent colonies, and has division of caste (queen, males, and workers). Trigona belong to stingless bees. In this research, we described morphological characteristics of "teuweul omas" (Trigona sp.) collected from Ciomas, Serang, Banten Province. Identification of specimen based on morphological characters and morphometric study, such as body length, characteristics of the head, thorax, wings, and legs. Morphological characteristics of worker “teuweul omas” are 4.445±0.072 mm body length, 1.911±0.019 mm head width, mesoscutum with distinct hair bands (well banded) separated by glabrous interspaces area, with plumose frontal hairs, and black metasoma, legs, and hairs on the frontal. Based on morphological characteristics of the body, "teuweul omas" was grouped in the genus Trigona, subgenus Tetragonula, and iridipennis group.