| Cleptotrigona | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Apidae |
| Tribe: | Meliponini |
| Genus: | Cleptotrigona Moure, 1961 |
| Species: | C. cubiceps |
| Binomial name | |
| Cleptotrigona cubiceps (Friese, 1912) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Cleptotrigona is a monotypic genus of cleptoparasitic stingless bee, represented by its only species Cleptotrigona cubiceps, sometimes referred to as the African robber bee. It is found in Africa.
The worker of Cleptotrigona cubiceps is a very small, dark brown to black stingless bee, with a body length of 3.5–4.0 mm. It lacks a pollen basket (corbicula) and the associated penicillum. The head is relatively large and shiny, and the scutum has a black, velvety vestiture. The mandible has one or two anterior teeth and one large posterior tooth. The forewing has two closed cells and a distinct radial sector (Rs) vein. [1]
Cleptotrigona cubiceps is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, with records from Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, and Liberia. [2] It is a kleptoparasite, invading the nests of other stingless bees to lay its eggs. It is believed to parasitize bees of the genera Hypotrigona and probably Liotrigona . [1]