Engel, Engel & Herhold & Davis & Wang & Thomas, 2021

Engel, Michael S., Herhold, Hollister W., Davis, Steven R., Wang, Bo & Thomas, Jennifer C., 2021, Stingless bees in Miocene amber of southeastern China (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Journal of Melittology 2021 (105), pp. 1-83 : 73-74

Nanoplebeia Engel , new subgenus

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:ED35E46F-94FA-4996-A0D4-694F57FFE766

TYPE SPECIES: Trigona minima Gibodo, 1893 .

DIAGNOSIS: This group includes particularly small species of Plebeia , with total body lengths approximately 2–3.5 mm. In most characters they are otherwise identical with the nominate subgenus, although in the forewing 2Cu is frequently a faint nebulous trace, weakening apically and disappearing by the wing margin. In typical Plebeia the vein is more prominently developed, often a brown to dark brown nebulous vein that extends across the remigium and terminates at the wing margin. In these species the mesoscutellum projects over the metanotum and the suture with the propodeum, but does not extend further. In Plebeia s.str. the extent to which the meoscutellum is extended is more variable and sometimes scarcely overhangs the metanotum or may more distinctly extend over the base of the propodeum.

ETYMOLOGY: The new genus-group name is a combination of the Latin terms nānus (meaning, “dwarf”) and plēbēia (meaning, “commoner”). The gender of the name is considered to be feminine.

INCLUDED SPECIES: The subgenus currently includes Plebeia franki (Friese) , P. margaritae Moure , P. minima (Gribodo) , and at least four undescribed species ( Engel , in press-d).