Notes on two Species of Ground Nesting Stingless Bees (<i>Trigona mirandula</i> and <i>T. buchwaldi</i> from the Pacific Rain Forest of Costa Rica

Abstract

The present study includes the following aspects : 1 Systematic position and relationships of Trigona buchwaldi and T. mirandula. 2) A description of the melanic queen form of T. mirandula. 3) A description of the queen of T. buchwaldi. 4) A brief account of the nest of T. mirandula with data previcusly unreported. 5 ) A detailed description or the nest of T. buchwaldi. 6) Ecological factors in relation to the nesting habits of the two species, which include: a) depth of the nest cavity in relation to the surface of the ground, b) impermeability of the outer walls of the nests, c) type of entrance turret, d) presence of drainage ducts or openings at the bottom of the nest. 7) Primitive and specialized characters in the nests of both species. 8) General behavior of Trigona buchwaldi