"m. scutellaris" is a member of the family apidae of eusocial bees within the order hymenoptera, which consists of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. the subfamily meliponini is commonly referred to as "stingless bees." it is one of 40 known species within the genus "melipona". "m. scutellaris" has the common name of "uruçu-nordestina" (northeast uruçu) or "uruçu-verdadeira" (true uruçu), usually shortened to just "uruçu."