A new species of stingless bee <i>Trigona (Plebeia)</i> from Costa Rica, with descriptions of its general behavior and cluster-type nest

Abstract

A new species of Plebeia, Trigona tica, from the province of Guanacastej Costa Rica, is described. A general survey of the nest architecture of Plebeia including a classification of the same and its possible evolutionary significance, is presented. Also a detailed description is given of the cluster type nest of T. tica, and the general behavior of these bees outside the nests.