We describe five new species of Tetragonula namely, Tetragonula vikrami Viraktamath, sp. n. (from Karnataka), T. sumae Viraktamath, sp. n. (from Tamil Nadu), T. ashishi Viraktamath and Jagruti, sp. n. (from Maharashtra), T. shishirae Viraktamath sp. n. (from Rajasthan) and T. shubhami Viraktamath, sp. n. (from Chhattisgarh) with associated female and male bees. These new species are distinct in having robust penis valve. Besides, T. sumae, T. ashishi, T. shishirae and T. shubhami have robust gonostylus which is lamellate, broad and apically outwardly curved finger-like structure. Tetragonula vikrami resembles T. iridipennis, however , the five new species differ from the other known species of Tetragonula in morphometry, shape, size, and structure of gonostylus, penis valve and the structure of the sternum 5 and 6. The discovery of these five new species elevates the total number of stingless bee species to 22 and the number of species in the genus Tetragonula to 17 from India. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11756-022-01040-8.

Morphometry of 53 stingless bees of the genus Lisotrigona collected from seven places in India by using 36 morphological parameters was studied. The data set also included  morphometry data of primary types of L. cacciae, L. chandrai and L. revanai for comparison and was subjected to Factor and Canonical Discriminant analysis. All the bees collected from five places formed two distinct clusters in the Factor analysis and five clusters in Canonical Discriminant analysis. In both the methods of analysis primary types of L. cacciae, L. chandrai and L. revanai were placed well separated from each other as well as from other bees. The bees from seven places also differed from the three known species in morphometry and ratios of length and width of parts of the body. Based on these results it is concluded that Indian stingless bees of the genus Lisotrigona consists of more than one species besides L. cacciae. The action of synonymizing L. mohandasi, L. chandrai and L. revanai with L. cacciae appears arbitrary; these three species should be considered valid until supported by male genital morphology or molecular characters.

Lisotrigona darbhaensis sp. nov. and L. kosumtaraensis sp. nov from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra states, respectively, are described along with the additional description of the male of L. chandrai. Lisotrigona darbhaensis nested in the tree trunk of teak (Tectona grandis) while L. kosumtaraensis in the Indian frank incense (Boswellia serrata) and Indian boxwood (Gardenia latifolia). Brood cells of L. kosumtaraensis were arranged in clusters. The colony of L. kosumtaraensis consisted of 921 female and 40 male bees. The detailed studies on male genitalia, metasomal sterna, and morphometry with associated female bees collected from Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh provided conclusive evidence as these bees were found different from the known species of Lisotrigona and new to science. Both the new species are distinct and different from other known species of Lisotrigona. The diversity of Lisotrigona bees in India is rich with six valid species and the action of synonymizing all Indian species of Lisotrigona with L. cacciae is arbitrary.