Stingless bees in Miocene amber of southeastern China (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Among the many inclusions from exceptionally rich fossiliferous amber of Zhangpu, China (Middle Miocene: Langhian), stingless bees (Apinae: Meliponini) are particularly common, analogous to merely slightly older sites Mexico and Dominican Republic. While there is a large number workers in Zhangpu amber, only two species represented. The systematics morphology tribe Meliponini outlined, including revision terms orientation direction when discussing surfaces features appendages, all order better discuss traits fossils as well place them into broader context global bees. representative Old World genera Meliponini: Tetragonula Moure Austroplebeia Moure. former widespread across southern Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, Australia, latter today known New Guinea Australia. Neither genus occurs environs today. (Tetragonula) florilega Engel, new species, generally typical subgenus although it intermingles otherwise found groups non-Australian s.str. sufficiently distinct subgenus, Anteplebeina Engel. (Anteplebeina) fujianica shares long list character states with s.str., presence yellow maculation on face, mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metepisternum, this clade among Asiatic Meliponini. Nonetheless, differs length malar space various wing venation. Keys provided subgenera both genera. diversity discussed, these Middle Miocene mainland Asia relation prior divergence time estimates, phylogenetic relationships, paleogeography region potential biogeographic hypotheses. biological association resins, collection dipterocarp discussed Class II resin likely produced by an extinct Dipterocarpaceae (Malvales). Also ecological preferences modern relative reconstructed paleoenvironment rainforest. Emendations classification appended, following taxa proposed: Atrichotrigona Axestotrigona Moure; Lispotrigona V.H. Gonzalez & Nannotrigona Cockerell; Asperplebeia genus; Nanoplebeia Plebeia Schwarz; Aphaneuropsis Koilotrigona Necrotrigona Dichrotrigona Nostotrigona Ktinotrofia Trigona Jurine; Chapadapis Schwarziana higher also established: Hypotrigonina sutribe; Heterotrigonitae infratribe; Trigoniscitae infratribe.