Summary
Twelve characters of 21 species were studied in stingless bees (Meliponidae). The Mahalanobis generalized distance was estimated as a measure of morphological likelihood. Four figures represented all the distances calculated. This study shows that: 1) Melipona rufiventris, M. seminigra and M. scutellaris cluster in a group; 2) The Trigona closet to the Meliponas are Meliponula and Partamona; 3) The Melipona closest to Trigonas are: M. marginata, M. schwarzi, M. favosa, M. mandaçaia; 4) The African Hypotrigona are close to the Plebeia.