Scaptotrigona xanthotricha (Moure, 1950) |
Other names: Yellow Mandaguari, Mandaguari amarela, Tiuba amarela, Tujumirim |
Scaptotrigona xanthotricha is a colonial stingless bee restricted to the Atlantic Forest region of the southeastern Brazil, from Bahia to Santa Catarina. It inhabits primary and mature secondary wet forest, where it builds nests in cavities and crevices in trees; it may use man-made wood structures. The entrance to the nest has the form of a funnel or tree fungi, and is made of wax. S. xanthotricha is an aggressive species, and the workers guard the nest entrance. These small bees (6-7mm in length) are important pollinators in the Atlantic Forest. Their colonies may number between 2,000 and 50,000 individuals.