Scaptotrigona postica (also known locally in Brazil as mandaguari) is a species of stingless bee that lives mainly in Brazil. It is a eusocial bee in the tribe Meliponini. S. postica is one of 25 species in the genus Scaptotrigona and is a critical pollinator of the tropical rain forests of Brazil. They construct their nests in hollowed sections of tree trunks, allowing for effective guarding at the nest entrance. This species shows colony structure similar to most members of the Meliponini tribe with three roles within the colony: queen, worker, and male. S. postica individuals have different forms of communication, from cuticular hydrocarbons to pheromones and scent trails. Communication is especially useful during worker foraging for nectar and pollen through the Brazilian tropical rainforests. S. postica is a very important pollinator of the Brazilian tropical rainforests and is widely appreciated for its honey. Stingless bees account for approximately 30% of all pollination of the Brazilian Caatinga and Pantanal ecosystems and up to 90% of the pollination for many species of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and the Amazon.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
Scaptotrigona postica is one of the 25 species in the genus Scaptotrigona, a eusocial genus of bees. It was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1807. In the past, it has also been called Melipona postica, Trigona postica and Trigona rustica. This bee is a member of many taxonomic subgroups, including the subclass pterygota (winged insects), suborder apocrita, and subfamily Apinae (stingless bees). These groups of bees are winged, have a social hierarchy, and do not have defensive stingers. Instead they bite and try to enter in body orifices as nose and ears. This species can be very aggressive against humans that approach its nest. Other similar species in this genus include Scaptotrigona hellwegeri, Scaptotrigona mexicana and Scaptotrigona pectoralis.
Queens, workers, and males
Scaptotrigona postica are medium-sized, averaging 1.2 cm in length...
