Genus of bees
Tetragonula is a genus of stingless bees. In 1961, Brazilian bee expert J.S. Moure first proposed the genus name "Tetragonula" to improve the classification system by dividing the large genus "Trigona" stingless bees into 9 smaller groups. About 30 stingless bee species formerly placed in the genus "Trigona" are now placed in the genus "Tetragonula". These bees are found in Oceania, in countries such as Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, and the Solomon Islands. The most recent tabulation of species listed 31 species.