Nest architecture as a tool for species discrimination of Hypotrigona species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Hypotrigona species are difficult to identify morphologically. Here, we show that nest sites and nest architecture can be used to discriminate three Hypotrigona species found in Kenya. Hypotrigona gribodoi, H. araujoi and H. ruspolii colonies from Kakamega forest and H. gribodoi from Mwingi, were collected and placed in a meliponiary at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). The following parameters were recorded: nest sites, internal nest entrances, external nest entrance colour and size, sizes (in terms of volume) of brood cells, honey and pollen pots, arrangement of brood cells and presence or absence of involucrum (cerumen covering brood). It was found that nest sites are specific to species. Hypotrigona gribodoi nests mostly in crevices inmudwalls whileH. ruspolii and H. araujoi nest in cavities in specific tree species, mainly in indigenous forests. The colour of external nest entrances varies between the species. H. araujoi’s is yellowish brown, H. gribodoi’s is white or cream while that ofH. ruspolii is dark brown. There is an internal nest entrance inH. gribodoi, which is absent in the other two Hypotrigona species. Brood cells are clustered in H. gribodoi and H. ruspolii whereas H. araujo’s formvertical semi comb-like layers. The area of the apical opening of the entrance tube and volumes of brood cells, honey and pollen pots differ significantly between the three Hypotrigona species. Therefore, nest sites and nest architecture can be used to discriminate three Hypotrigona species. Furthermore, the study indicates that conservation of indigenous forests, the main habitat for H. araujoi and H. ruspolii is important for their conservation.https://journals.co.za/content/journal/entohj2020Zoology and Entomolog

Compounds extracted from heads of African stingless bees (Hypotrigona species) as a prospective taxonomic tool

Stingless bees are important pollinators of plants, and also producers of honey. Species within the African stingless bee genus Hypotrigona are difficult to differentiate due to morphological similarities. Chemical profiles of whole head extracts from workers of three Hypotrigona species: H. gribodoi, H. araujoi and H. ruspolii were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 50 components belonging to six chemical classes: hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, terpenoids, steroids and fatty acids were identified. Twenty-nine compounds were found in H. araujoi, 26 in H. gribodoi and 33 in H. ruspolii head extracts. Hydrocarbons, alcohols and fatty acids were the major classes, whilst steroids and terpenoids were minor. Aldehydes were found only in H. ruspolii while terpenoids were only present in extracts of H. gribodoi and H. araujoi. Eight chemical compounds were specific to H. araujoi, six to H. gribodoi and nine to H. ruspolii, showing both qualitative and quantitative differences. Workers were successfully grouped into their respective species using their chemical profiles. This study shows that head extracts can be used as a reliable taxonomic tool for identifying and differentiating Hypotrigona species.The European Union (EU) (Grant Contract No. DCI-FOOD/2013/313-659: African Reference Laboratory (with satellite stations) for the Management of Pollination Bee Diseases and Pests for Food Security); the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Career Advancement Fellowship (Grant no: 91419) to AAY; NRF Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers to CWWP and AAY; UK Aid from the UK Government; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Kenyan Government. The first author was supported by a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) In-Region Postgraduate Scholarship.https://link.springer.com/journal/492019-04-01hj2018Zoology and Entomolog

Morphological re-description and molecular identification of Tabanidae (Diptera) in East Africa

Biting flies of the family Tabanidae are important vectors of human and animal diseases across continents. However, records of Africa tabanids are fragmentary and mostly cursory. To improve identification, documentation and description of Tabanidae in East Africa, a baseline survey for the identification and description of Tabanidae in three eastern African countries was conducted. Tabanids from various locations in Uganda (Wakiso District), Tanzania (Tarangire National Park) and Kenya (Shimba Hills National Reserve, Muhaka, Nguruman) were collected. In Uganda, octenol baited F-traps were used to target tabanids, while NG2G traps baited with cow urine and acetone were employed in Kenya and Tanzania. The tabanids were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Morphologically, five genera (Ancala, Tabanus, Atylotus, Chrysops and Haematopota) and fourteen species of the Tabanidae were identified. Among the 14 species identified, six belonged to the genus Tabanus of which two (T. donaldsoni and T. guineensis) had not been described before in East Africa. The greatest diversity of tabanid species were collected from the Shimba Hills National Reserve, while collections from Uganda (around the shores of Lake Victoria) had the fewest number of species. However, the Ancala genus was found in Uganda, but not in Kenya or Tanzania. Maximum likelihood phylogenies of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) genes sequenced in this study show definite concordance with morphological species identifications, except for Atylotus. This survey will be critical to building a complete checklist of Tabanidae prevalent in the region, expanding knowledge of these important vectors of human and animal diseases.Training Health Researchers into Vocational Excellence in East Africa (THRiVE), grant number 087540 funded by the Wellcome Trust, with additional support from the Wellcome Trust (grant 093692) to the University of Glasgow, and icipe institutional funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Kenyan Government.http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeysam2018Zoology and Entomolog

Resolviendo la ambigüedad taxonómica y la especiación críptica de las especies de Hypotrigona a través de la morfometría y el código de barras de ADN

Stingless bees are important pollinators of cultivated and wild plants, contributing significantly to biodiversity and food security. Conserving pollinator plant interactions is essential to secure these ecosystems services. The use of morphological features in the identification of stingless bees in the genus Hypotrigona is extremely difficult, due to many similarities among species resulting in taxonomic ambiguity. Here, we apply both traditional morphometrics and DNA barcoding as complementary tools for the identification of three Hypotrigona species from Kenya: Hypotrigona gribodoi, H. ruspolii and H. araujoi. Our results show that morphometrics separates H. gribodoi and H. ruspolii from H. araujoi; however there is an overlap between H. gribodoi and H. ruspolii. On the other hand, DNA barcoding separates the three species. There was lower genetic distance between H. araujoi and H. gribodoi from Kakamega (1.4%) than between H. gribodoi collected from Kakamega and H. gribodoi from Mwingi (4.3%). The high genetic distance or intraspecific distance within H. gribodoi strongly suggests cryptic speciation within this species, and that the H. gribodoi collected from Mwingi is a putative new species. Thus the use of morphometrics and molecular taxonomic approaches (DNA barcoding) provide a convenient, robust and reliable way to identify Hypotrigona species. It also indicates the need for a thorough revision of H. gribodoi species.Las abejas sin aguijón son importantes polinizadores de plantas cultivadas y silvestres, contribuyendo significativamente a la biodiversidad y la seguridad alimentaria. La conservación de las interacciones entre plantas polinizadoras es esencial para asegurar estos servicios de los ecosistemas. El uso de las características morfológicas en la identificación de las abejas sin aguijón en el género Hypotrigona es extremadamente difícil, debido a múltiples similitudes entre especies que dan lugar a ambigüedades taxonómicas. Aquí aplicamos tanto la morfometría tradicional como el código de barras de ADN como herramientas complementarias para la identificación de tres especies de Hypotrigona de Kenia: Hypotrigona gribodoi, H. ruspolii y H. araujoi. Nuestros resultados muestran que la morfometría separa a H. gribodoi y H. ruspolii de H. araujoi; sin embargo, existe un solapamiento entre H. gribodoi y H. ruspolii. Por otra parte, el código de barras de ADN separa las tres especies. Hubo una menor distancia genética entre H. araujoi y H. gribodoi de Kakamega (1,4%) que entre H. gribodoi de Kakamega y H. gribodoi de Mwingi (4.3%). La mayor distancia genética o distancia intraespecífica dentro de H. gribodoi sugiere fuertemente la especiación críptica dentro de esta especie, y que H. gribodoi recogida de Mwingi es una nueva especie putativa. Por lo tanto, el uso de la morfometría y los enfoques taxonómicos moleculares (código de barras de ADN) proporcionan una manera conveniente, robusta y confiable de identificar especies de Hypotrigona. También indica la necesidad de realizar una revisión exhaustiva de las especies de H. gribodoi.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjar202019-02-15hj2018Zoology and Entomolog