Diversity of Stingless Bees Based on Principal Component Analysis in Halmahera Island, Indonesia

Tetragonula is one of stingless bees genus widely spread in Indo-Pacific with various species, including Indonesia. This genus is also found in West Halmahera, but it does not have a unique character as the marker, so it is difficult to identify. The best way to identify is by measuring the body part from each individual. This research was conducted to analyze morphometry to know the diversity of stingless bee in West Halmahera. Three hundred thirty-two (332) stingless bees from 51 colonies of three different species were used, namely Tetragonula clypearis, 40 colonies (252 bees), T. sapiens, 10 colonies (72 bees), and T. biroi, one colony (eight bees). Morphometry of stingless bees were analyzed based on principal component analysis (PCA), visualized into scree plot, score plot, loading plot and biplot. The results showed that only two principal components (PCs) on eigenvalue have a score more than one with the total proportions are 85.8%. All the species were not correlated because they appeared in different quadrants. Morphometry variables have a positive correlation with T. sapiens, but negative correlation with T. clypearies, while T. biroi has a weak correlation with the variables of T. sapiens. T. sapiens can only be found in the highlands, T. clypearis is mostly found in medium elevations but can also be found in highlands, while T. biroi can only be found in lowlands.