FIGURE 1. 1A in Stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) of the Indian subcontinent: Diversity, taxonomy and current status of knowledge

FIGURE 1. 1A. Scanning electron microscope image demonstrating the inner surface of hind tibia and basitarsus, the latter with the differentiated basal sericeous area of short, dense, hairs characteristic of the genus Tetragonula of the Indian subcontinent (specimen is Heterotrigona itama Cockerell from Malaysia). 1B. Close-up of the hind basitarsus with sericeous area of short, dense, hairs. 1C. Lepidotrigona with diagnostic dense tessellation on head and thorax and densely plumose hairs on the margin of mesoscutum (Lepidotrigona cf. arcifera from India, Nagaland, collection 21). 1D. The "iridipennis" species group is characterized by distinct bands of pubescence separated by broad glabrous interspaces on the mesoscutum (specimen from India, Tamil Nadu, collection 17). Notice that the latter two specimens are laterally glued directly to the entomological pin, thus, avoiding to pin through the mesoscutum and obscure characters from this area.