Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Mi Bee Lab 10-20-1994 The Classification of Old orldW Anthidiini (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) Charles D. Michener University of Kansas Terry L. Griswold Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_mi Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Michener, Charles D. and Griswold, Terry L., "The Classification of Old orldW Anthidiini (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)" (1994). Mi. Paper 169. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_mi/169 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Bee Lab at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mi by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2.M ^ THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCIENCE BULLETIN \bl. 55, No. 9, pp. 299-327 NOV 2 8 19940ctober 20, 1994 HARVARD UNIVERSITY The Classification of Old World Anthidiini (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae ) Charles D. MichenerI .\nd Terry L. Griswold- TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 299 Introduction 300 Acknowledgments 300 List of Genus-Group Names 300 Kev to the Genera of Anthidiini of the Eastern Hemisphere 302 Siipplementan' Kev to Males of ."Viithidiine Genera of the Eastern Hemisphere 304 Comments, Descriptions, and Keys to Subgenera 305 (See page numbers for genera in List of Genus-Group Names) Literature Cited 325 .\BSTRACT Genus-group names of Anthidiini of the eastern hemisphere are listed with indications of synonymies and status (i.e., genus or subgenus). Keys to genera and stibgenera are provided, together with explanatif)ns of classificatoiT decisions. The taxa are n. tollowing new described: Acanlhidium g., rspe species: Acauthidium balracn. sp. from hidia; Clistnnthid- n. ium, stibg. oi Eoauthidium, type species: Uianlhidium turnmcum Ma\Tomoustakis; Indanthidium n. g., type species: Ind- anthidium n. n. n. crenulaticauda sp. from India; LarinosleUs g., type species: Larinostelis scapulata sp. from Kenya; Trarhiisflidnn. Trachusoides n. g.. tvpe species: simplex sp. from hidia: Tiichanthidindcs. n. siibg. oi Pnrlnnnthidum. rv'pe species: Pachyanthidium scmiluteum Pasteels; '/Mslrranthidium. n. subg. oi Ajrauthidtuw. type species: Nifpymlhidiitm tergofasrialiim Pasteels; and Pseudoaitthtdium hmrli/n/um n. sp. from Tanzania, an untisual species placed in the stibgentis Tuberanthidiuw. ' SM)U En roMOLOGICAL Ml'SEf.M, UNtVTERSITY OF K\N.SAS, LAWRENCE, KWSAS 66045, USA. - Bee Biology & Svstem.\tics Laboratory, Utah State University', Logan, Utah 84322-5310, USA. 300 The UNrvERSIT^ of K\nsas Science Bulletin INTRODUCTION tain characters, comprehensi\e knowledge of anthidiines was advanced by his contributions. Frustrating as his works can The preparation of an account of bees of the world by be, we must say that a paper such as oius would have been one of us (CDM) led to development of the present paper difficidt to prepare using the scattered literature available on old world anthidiine bees, to serve as a precursor for the before Pasteels" publications. Nonetheless, we believe that account planned for the future. The anthidiine bees con- one of the contributions of the present work is better to in- stitute a tribe in the subfamih' Megachilinae in the sense of dicate relationships among taxa by synon\'mi/ing some of . Pasteels' names others Roig-j\lsina and Michener ( 1993) We now exclude Dioxyini generic and reducing man)' from from the Anthidiini. The Anthidiini differs from other generic to subgeneric status. tribes (Dioxyini, Megachilini, Osmiini) in the folloiving The new species described herein are all rare, at least in characters: collections; the number of available specimens of each Mandible of female much broader than that of male, varies from one to foiu". Therefore we have gi\en rathei full with three or more teeth, sometimes difficidt to interpret descriptions and illustrations, and have included probable if there is a long and partly smooth apical margin as in some generic characters in the species descriptions, so that ex- neotropical forms. Metanotimi without median tubercle. plicit information will be available on as manv characters Stigma less than twice as long as broad, inner margin basal as possible for the use of those who do not have specimens to vein r usuallv little if any longer than width, rarely about available. 1.5 times width; prestigma commonly short, usually less In the geographical information provided in the keys, than twice as long as broad; claws offemale cleft or with inner Africa means subsaharan Africa and Oriental means the Ori- tooth except in Trachusoides: oiuer surface of hind tibia ental faunal region, i.e., tropical Asia and nearby islands. usually with abundant simple bristles; sting of female well Clearlv a numerical phylogenetic study would have been developed; bodv commonly with yellow or white (some- desirable and will be necessarv before a more definitive tiines red) integumental marks. classification is developed, whether or not that classification We use some terminolog)' that will be explained else- is based strictly on phylogenetic findings. W'e hope that the where in greater detail. The following brief explanations W\\\ present paper, and the world accoimt alluded to above in suffice for this paper: which taxa will be briefly characterized, will at least suggest omalus—the angle between the anterior siuface and the a multitude of characters that might be used in a formal phv- lateral surface of the mesepisternum. logenetic studv. juxtantennal carinae—the pair of more or less longitudi- nal carinae, each just mesal to an antennal base and fre- quently overlapping the antennal base. (Terms like .'SiCKNOWTEDGMENTS interantennal carinae suggest carinae extending between the antennal bases.) We much appreciate the opportunity to examine rvpe specimens and other material lent us b\ the institutions and Tl, SI, etc. —first metasomal tergiun and sternimi, etc. following per- sons: Museum an der Humboldt-Unixersitat, Berlin Thus, Tl is the second abdominal the Zoologisches tergimi, propodeimi (Frank Koch): The Natiual Histon Museum, London (Laraine first. being Ficken); Director, Department of Agriculture, Nicosia, Cyprus; tribe is in all This found continents, biu onlv one species American Museimi of Natural Histoiy, New York (Jerome G. of San Francisco V. is known from Australia. Elsewhere each continent con- Rozen.Jr.) ; California Academy Sciences, (W. Pulawski); University of California, Davis (l.ynn S. Kimsey); South tains many genera and species. There is a tendency for the .\frican Museum. Capetown (V. Whitehead): Zoological Institute, development of numerous, small, morphologicalh' distinc- Russian .Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg (Y. A, Pesenko); G. tive taxa so that many genera and subgenera ha\e been rec- van der Zanden. Eindlioven. Netherlands. ognized. On the other hand Warncke (1980) placed all CDM's pan in this paper was greatly facilitated by Virginia Ashlock and b\ National Science Foundatit)n DEB-9,S02186. nonparasitic Anthidiini of the western palearctic region in grant the genus Anthidium. This clearlv limips very dissimilar forms into a paraphyletic group from which parasitic taxa must have evolved. LIST OF GENUS-GROUP NAMES In the present paper, we ignore taxa of the western hemi- sphere. Onl\' the following genera occm both in the Amer- Acaulhidium .Michener and Griswold, new 305. icas and in the eastern hemisphere: Anthtdii'Uum, Anthidium, genus; p. Michener; 307. Trachusa, and Stelis. Afmnthidiuni p. Ajraulludinm Michener s. str., 1948: 24. We have not included detailed descriptions except for new BrdnthidiiniiPaateeh, 1969a: 88 = HouiiiithidiumPasteeh, this use of earlier the taxa; paper requires works, especially 1969a: 88. Pasteels 1984). We are major papers by (1969a, impressed Capanthidium Pasteels, 1969a: 85. that, although Pasteels" works showed many signs of haste, Donuinthidium Pasteels, 1969a: 95. he knew a great deal about anthidiine bees. Even though Immanthidium Pasteels, 1969a: 89. his kevs often do not work and his diagrams of structures Mesanthidiellum Pasteels, 1969a: 83. II / i 1950: 316. and his descriptions somedmes conflict or are wrong for cer- Mesa hid am Popov, MCZ . Old World Anthidiixe Bees LIBRARY 301 Pasteels, 1984: 57 = Melantliidium Pas- Pachyanthidium Friese; 317. Nigrauthidium p. JOV 28 1994 teels, 1969a: 90 (preoccupied). Ausanthidiinn Pasteels, 1969a: 60. Omuthidium Pasteels, 1969a: 95. Pachyanthidium Friese s. str., 1905; 66, also described A:«ifl/(//»V/»(/« Pasteels, 1984: 33. as new by Friese, 1908: 15^^Af?\/A F?Pi Zosteranthidium Michener and Griswold. new sub- Trichanthidiodes Michener aWjwfWti^W^iTjcW genus. ffenus. 'VCKoirY Afrostelis CockexeW. 1931: 340; p. 312. Trichaulliidiiiiii Cockerell, 1930: 52. AnthidieUum Cockerell: p. 312. Plesianthidium Cameron; p. 319. Anauthidii'llum Pasteels, 1969a: 49. Carinanthidiiini Pasteels. 1969a: 42. Aiilhidii'lluin Cockerell s. str., 1904b: 3 = Ccrianthidium Plesianthidiuiii Cameron s. str., 1905: 256. Friese, 1923: 304. Spiiiaiithidii'Uum Pasteels, 1969a: 59. = Chlomuthldit'llii III MdvromousVdk'is, 1963b: 491 C.lilni- Spinaiithidium Mavromoustakis, 1951: 977. anllud/umPa.steels. 1969a: 48 (unjustified emen- Pseudoanthidiiini Friese; p. 319. dation). Exaiithidium Pasteels, 1969a: 82. Clypanthidium Pasteels. 1968: 1060, also described as Miminlhidiuni Cockei-eW, 1930: 45. new in Pasteels, 1969a: 53. Pseudoanthidnim Friese s. str., 1898: 101 = Paranthi- Pyoirnilhidiiim Krombein, 1951: 292 = Pyirnaiithidium
Recommended publications
  • Wild Bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: Richness, Abundance, and Spatio-Temporal Beta-Diversity
    Wild bees of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: richness, abundance, and spatio-temporal beta-diversity Olivia Messinger Carril1, Terry Griswold2, James Haefner3 and Joseph S. Wilson4 1 Santa Fe, NM, United States of America 2 USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Logan, UT, United States of America 3 Biology Department, Emeritus Professor, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America 4 Department of Biology, Utah State University - Tooele, Tooele, UT, United States of America ABSTRACT Interest in bees has grown dramatically in recent years in light of several studies that have reported widespread declines in bees and other pollinators. Investigating declines in wild bees can be difficult, however, due to the lack of faunal surveys that provide baseline data of bee richness and diversity. Protected lands such as national monuments and national parks can provide unique opportunities to learn about and monitor bee populations dynamics in a natural setting because the opportunity for large-scale changes to the landscape are reduced compared to unprotected lands. Here we report on a 4-year study of bees in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), found in southern Utah, USA. Using opportunistic collecting and a series of standardized plots, we collected bees throughout the six-month flowering season for four consecutive years. In total, 660 bee species are now known from the area, across 55 genera, and including 49 new species. Two genera not previously known to occur in the state of Utah were discovered, as well as 16 new species records for the state. Bees include ground-nesters, cavity- and twig-nesters, cleptoparasites, narrow specialists, generalists, solitary, and social species.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies of North American Bees
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) University Studies of the University of Nebraska January 1914 Studies of North American Bees Myron Harmon Swenk University of Nebraska - Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers Part of the Life Sciences Commons Swenk, Myron Harmon, "Studies of North American Bees" (1914). Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska). 9. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Studies of the University of Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. VOL. XIV JANUAR Y 1914 No. I I.-STUDIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BEES BY MYRON HARMON SWENK &+ The present paper is the second of the series proposed in a previous contribution on the famil.\- Nomadidae (arztea, XII, pp. I-II~),and aims to tabulate and list the bees of the family Stelididae occurring in Nebraska, together wilth annotations con- cerning their distribution, comparative abundance and season of flight. As in the previous study, records and descriptions of specimens from outside Nebraska before the writer are included where these seem to add anything to our knowledge of the species concerned. MATERIAL In the studies upon which this paper is based over four hundred specimens have been examined and determined. From the state of Nebraska fifteen species and subspecies are recorded, and of these three species are apparently new.
    [Show full text]
  • A Visual Guide for the Identification of British Coelioxys Bees
    1 Introduction The Hymenoptera is an order of insects that includes bees, wasps, ants, ichneumons, sawflies, gall wasps and their relatives. The bees (family Apidae) can be recognised as such by the presence of feather-like hairs on their bodies, particularly near the wing bases. The genus Coelioxys Latreille belongs to the bee subfamily Megachilinae. There are six species of Coelioxys present in mainland Britain. Two other species are found in Guernsey but not mentioned in this pictorial key (C. afra Lepeletier and C. brevis Eversmann). Natural History Coelioxys (their various English names are: Sharp-tailed Bees, Sharp-abdomen Bees and Sharp-bellied Bees) are among those known as cuckoo bees because the larvae grow up on food stolen from Leaf-cutter Bees (Megachile Latreille) or Flower Bees (Anthophora Latreille). The genus Megachile probably includes the closest relatives of Coelioxys. Female Megachile construct nests of larval cells from leaves and provision each cell with a mixture of pollen and nectar for the young. A female Coelioxys will seek these out and apparently uses its sharp abdomen to pierce the cells. An egg is then laid in the Megachile cell. The egg of the Coelioxys hatches before that of the Megachile and the newly-hatched larva crushes the Megachile egg with its large jaws. The Coelioxys larva can then feed on the contents of the cell. Pupation occurs within a cocoon spun within the host cell where the larva overwinters as a prepupa. The genus Anthophora excavates nest burrows in sandy soil or rotting wood, where they may also become the hosts of Coelioxys larvae.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthidium Manicatum, an Invasive Bee, Excludes a Native Bumble Bee, Bombus Impatiens, from floral Resources
    Biol Invasions https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1889-7 (0123456789().,-volV)(0123456789().,-volV) ORIGINAL PAPER Anthidium manicatum, an invasive bee, excludes a native bumble bee, Bombus impatiens, from floral resources Kelsey K. Graham . Katherine Eaton . Isabel Obrien . Philip T. Starks Received: 15 April 2018 / Accepted: 21 November 2018 Ó Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018 Abstract Anthidium manicatum is an invasive pol- response to A. manicatum presence. We found that B. linator reaching widespread distribution in North impatiens avoided foraging near A. manicatum in both America. Male A. manicatum aggressively defend years; but despite this resource exclusion, we found no floral territories, attacking heterospecific pollinators. evidence of fitness consequences for B. impatiens. Female A. manicatum are generalists, visiting many of These results suggest A. manicatum pose as significant the same plants as native pollinators. Because of A. resource competitors, but that B. impatiens are likely manicatum’s rapid range expansion, the territorial able to compensate for this resource loss by finding behavior of males, and the potential for female A. available resources elsewhere. manicatum to be significant resource competitors, invasive A. manicatum have been prioritized as a Keywords Exotic species Á Resource competition Á species of interest for impact assessment. But despite Interspecific competition Á Foraging behavior Á concerns, there have been no empirical studies inves- Pollination tigating the impact of A. manicatum on North Amer- ican pollinators. Therefore, across a two-year study, we monitored foraging behavior and fitness of the common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) in Introduction With increasing movement of goods and people Electronic supplementary material The online version of around the world, introduction of exotic species is this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1889-7) con- increasing at an unprecedented rate (Ricciardi et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide
    WisconsinWisconsin BeeBee IdentificationIdentification GuideGuide Developed by Patrick Liesch, Christy Stewart, and Christine Wen Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) The honey bee is perhaps our best-known pollinator. Honey bees are not native to North America and were brought over with early settlers. Honey bees are mid-sized bees (~ ½ inch long) and have brownish bodies with bands of pale hairs on the abdomen. Honey bees are unique with their social behavior, living together year-round as a colony consisting of thousands of individuals. Honey bees forage on a wide variety of plants and their colonies can be useful in agricultural settings for their pollination services. Honey bees are our only bee that produces honey, which they use as a food source for the colony during the winter months. In many cases, the honey bees you encounter may be from a local beekeeper’s hive. Occasionally, wild honey bee colonies can become established in cavities in hollow trees and similar settings. Photo by Christy Stewart Bumble bees (Bombus sp.) Bumble bees are some of our most recognizable bees. They are amongst our largest bees and can be close to 1 inch long, although many species are between ½ inch and ¾ inch long. There are ~20 species of bumble bees in Wisconsin and most have a robust, fuzzy appearance. Bumble bees tend to be very hairy and have black bodies with patches of yellow or orange depending on the species. Bumble bees are a type of social bee Bombus rufocinctus and live in small colonies consisting of dozens to a few hundred workers. Photo by Christy Stewart Their nests tend to be constructed in preexisting underground cavities, such as former chipmunk or rabbit burrows.
    [Show full text]
  • Seasonal and Spatial Patterns of Mortality and Sex Ratio in the Alfalfa
    Seasonal and spatial patterns of mortality and sex ratio in the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) by Ruth Pettinga ONeil A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology Montana State University © Copyright by Ruth Pettinga ONeil (2004) Abstract: Nests from five seed alfalfa sites of the alfalfa leafcutting bee Megachile rotundata (F.) were monitored over the duration of the nesting season in 2000 and 2001, from early July through late August. Cells containing progeny of known age and known position within the nest were subsequently analyzed for five commonly encountered categories of pre-diapause mortality in this species. Chalkbrood and pollen ball had the strongest seasonal relationships of mortality factors studied. Chalkbrood incidence was highest in early-produced cells. Pollen ball was higher in late-season cells. Chalkbrood, parasitism by the chalcid Pteromalus venustus, and death of older larvae and prepupae , due to unknown source(s) exhibited the strongest cell-position relationships. Both chalkbrood and parasitoid incidence were highest in the inner portions of nests. The “unknown” category of mortality was highest in outer portions of nests. Sex ratio was determined for a subset of progeny reared to adulthood. The ratio of females to males is highest in cells in inner nest positions. Sex ratio is female-biased very early in the nesting season, when all cells being provisioned are the inner cells of nests, due to the strong positional effect on sex ratio. SEASONAL AND SPATIAL PATTERNS OF MORTALITY AND SEX RATIO IN THE ALFALFA LEAFCUTTING BEE, Megachile rotundata (F.) by .
    [Show full text]
  • Revision of the Neotropical Subgenera Coelioxys (Platycoelioxys) Mitchell and C
    Zootaxa 3941 (2): 151–203 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2015 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3941.2.1 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EADB0C53-EE0E-45CF-8E21-59143C5EC389 Revision of the Neotropical subgenera Coelioxys (Platycoelioxys) Mitchell and C. (Rhinocoelioxys) Mitchell (Hymenoptera; Megachilidae) with the description of one new species LÉO CORREIA DA ROCHA FILHO & LAURENCE PACKER York University, Department of Biology, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Table of contents Abstract . 151 Resumo . 152 Resumen . 152 Introduction . 152 Material and methods . 153 Taxonomy . 155 Subgenus C. (Rhinocoelioxys) Mitchell . 155 Key to Females of C. (Rhinocoelioxys) . 156 Key to males of C. (Rhinocoelioxys) . 159 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) agilis Smith. 162 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) barbata Schwarz & Michener . 166 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) clypearis Friese. 170 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) nasidens Friese . 172 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) paraguayensis Schrottky . 176 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) platygnatha n. sp. 180 Coelioxys (Rhinocoelioxys) zapoteca Cresson . 182 Subgenus C. (Platycoelioxys) Mitchell . 193 Coelioxys (Platycoelioxys) alatiformis Friese . 197 Acknowledgements . 202 References . 202 Abstract Two Neotropical subgenera of Coelioxys Latreille are revised. The monotypic C. (Platycoelioxys) Mitchell and C. (Rhi- nocoelioxys) Mitchell has seven valid species; six of them (C. agilis Smith, C. barbata Schwarz & Michener, C. clypearis Friese, C. nasidens Friese, C. paraguayensis Schrottky and C. zapoteca Cresson) previously described, and one, C. platyg- natha Rocha-Filho & Packer n. sp. is new from Amazonas State, Brazil. Coelioxys nasidens, previously considered a ju- nior synonym of C. clypeata Smith, is resurrected.
    [Show full text]
  • Disturbance and Recovery in a Changing World; 2006 June 6–8; Cedar City, UT
    Reproductive Biology of Larrea tridentata: A Preliminary Comparison Between Core Shrubland and Isolated Grassland Plants at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico Rosemary L. Pendleton, Burton K. Pendleton, Karen R. Wetherill, and Terry Griswold Abstract—Expansion of diploid creosote shrubs (Larrea tridentata Introduction_______________________ (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville)) into grassland sites occurs exclusively through seed production. We compared the reproductive biology Chihuahuan Desert shrubland is expanding into semiarid of Larrea shrubs located in a Chihuahuan desert shrubland with grasslands of the Southwest. Creosote (Larrea tridentata) isolated shrubs well-dispersed into the semiarid grasslands at the seedling establishment in grasslands is a key factor in this Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Specifically, we examined (1) re- conversion. Diploid Larrea plants of the Chihuahuan Des- productive success on open-pollinated branches, (2) the potential ert are not clonal as has been reported for some hexaploid of individual shrubs to self-pollinate, and (3) bee pollinator guild Mojave populations (Vasek 1980). Consequently, Larrea composition at shrubland and grassland sites. Sampling of the bee guild suggests that there are adequate numbers of pollinators at establishment in semiarid grasslands of New Mexico must both locations; however, the community composition differs between occur exclusively through seed. At McKenzie Flats in the shrub and grassland sites. More Larrea specialist bee species were Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, there exists a gradient found at the shrubland site as compared with the isolated shrubs. in Larrea density stretching from dense Larrea shrubland Large numbers of generalist bees were found on isolated grassland (4,000 to 6,000 plants per hectare) to semiarid desert grass- bushes, but their efficiency in pollinating Larrea is currently un- land with only a few scattered shrubs.
    [Show full text]
  • Leafcutting Bees, Megachilidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Megachilinae)1 David Serrano2
    EENY-342 Leafcutting Bees, Megachilidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Megachilinae)1 David Serrano2 Introduction Distribution Leafcutting bees are important native pollinators of North Leafcutting bees are found throughout the world and America. They use cut leaves to construct nests in cavities are common in North America. In Florida there are ap- (mostly in rotting wood). They create multiple cells in the proximately 63 species (plus five subspecies) within seven nest, each with a single larva and pollen for the larva to eat. genera of leafcutter bees: Ashmeadiella, Heriades, Hoplitis, Leafcutting bees are important pollinators of wildflowers, Coelioxys, Lithurgus, Megachile, and Osmia. fruits, vegetables and other crops. Some leafcutting bees, Osmia spp., are even used as commercial pollinators (like Description honey bees) in crops such as alfalfa and blueberries. Most leafcutting bees are moderately sized (around the size of a honey bee, ranging from 5 mm to 24 mm), stout-bod- ied, black bees. The females, except the parasitic Coelioxys, carry pollen on hairs on the underside of the abdomen rather than on the hind legs like other bees. When a bee is carrying pollen, the underside of the abdomen appears light yellow to deep gold in color. Biology Leafcutting bees, as their name implies, use 0.25 to 0.5 inch circular pieces of leaves they neatly cut from plants to construct nests. They construct cigar-like nests that contain several cells. Each cell contains a ball or loaf of stored pollen and a single egg. Therefore, each cell will produce a Figure 1. A leafcutting bee, Megachile sp. single bee.
    [Show full text]
  • Bees of Sub-Saharan Africa Poster
    Bees of Sub-Saharan Africa It is estimated that there are around 30 000 bee species worldwide of which about 20 500 have been described, 2755 occur in sub-Saharan Africa and about 1200 occur in South Africa. Bees, in many shapes and sizes, pollinate about 80% of all flowering plants and 75% of the vegetables, fruits and nuts we eat. The symbols next to each bee indicate their sociality, where they nest and where they get their food. Megachilidae are long tongued bees with two submarginal cells on their wings that collect pollen Apidae are long tongued bees with two or three submarginal wing cells that collect pollen on their hind legs. under their abdomens. The group comprises almost every type of nest building behaviour. Most are solitary but some are social. Parasitism includes social parasites, cleptoparasites and robbers. ♂ ♂ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀ ♂ C ♀ C ♀ ♂ F Pasites ♀ appletoni C C F Cleft Cuckoo Ammobates ♀ Nomada gigas Bee auster Gnathanthidium Wasp Cuckoo Sandwalker prionognathum Bee Cuckoo Bee F Big Jawed Afromelecta fulvohirta Euaspis abdominalis Xylocopa lugubris Fidelia braunsiana Redtailed Cuckoo Bee Carder Bee Coelioxys circumscriptus Large Carpenter Bee Pathwork Cuckoo Bee Pot Bee Cone Cuckoo Bee ♀ ♂ ♀ ♀ ♂ C ♂ ♀ F ♂ C ♂ ♀ ♀ ♂ ♀ ♀ F ♀ ♂ F Ceratina Sphecodopsis Icteranthidium ♀ ♂ Schwarzia emmae moerenhouti Max Cuckoo Bee vespericena F grohmani Small Carpenter Bee Cape Cuckoo Ridge Cheeked Bee C F Hoplitis similis Carder Bee F Lithurgus spiniferus Big Resin Bee Aglaoapis trifasciata Stone Bee Toothed Cuckoo Bee F ♀ ♂ ♀ ♂ Aspidosmia arnoldi ♀ ♂ Ugly Faced Carder Bee ♀ F ♀ ♀ Thyreus pictus Xylocopa scioensis F F Neon Cuckoo Bee Afroheriades sp. ♀ Large Carpenter Bee Compsomelissa Macrogalea candida African Resin Bee Ochreriades F ♀ Stenoheriades sp.
    [Show full text]
  • The Very Handy Bee Manual
    The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection A Collective and Ongoing Effort by Those Who Love to Study Bees in North America Last Revised: October, 2010 This manual is a compilation of the wisdom and experience of many individuals, some of whom are directly acknowledged here and others not. We thank all of you. The bulk of the text was compiled by Sam Droege at the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab over several years from 2004-2008. We regularly update the manual with new information, so, if you have a new technique, some additional ideas for sections, corrections or additions, we would like to hear from you. Please email those to Sam Droege ([email protected]). You can also email Sam if you are interested in joining the group’s discussion group on bee monitoring and identification. Many thanks to Dave and Janice Green, Tracy Zarrillo, and Liz Sellers for their many hours of editing this manual. "They've got this steamroller going, and they won't stop until there's nobody fishing. What are they going to do then, save some bees?" - Mike Russo (Massachusetts fisherman who has fished cod for 18 years, on environmentalists)-Provided by Matthew Shepherd Contents Where to Find Bees ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Nets ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Netting Technique ......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Nest Site Selection in the European Wool-Carder Bee, Anthidium Manicatum, with Methods for an Emerging Model Species*
    Apidologie (2011) 42:181 – 191 Original article c INRA/DIB-AGIB/EDP Sciences, 2010 DOI: 10.1051/apido/2010050 Nest site selection in the European wool-carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, with methods for an emerging model species* Ansel Payne 1,DustinA.Schildroth2,PhilipT.Starks 3 1 Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, NY 10024 New York, USA 2 Department of Psychology, University of New England, ME 04005 Biddeford, USA 3 Department of Biology, Tufts University, MA 02155 Medford, USA Received 6 February 2010 – Revised 11 May 2010 – Accepted 12 May 2010 Abstract – For many organisms, choosing an appropriate nest site is a critical component of reproductive fitness. Here we examine nest site selection in the solitary, resource defense polygynous bee, Anthidium manicatum. Using a wood-framed screen enclosure outfitted with food sources, nesting materials, and bam- boo trap nests, we show that female bees prefer to initiate nests in sites located high above the ground. We also show that nest sites located at higher levels are less likely to contain spiderwebs, suggesting an adaptive explanation for nest site height preferences. We report size differences between this study’s source populations in Boston, Massachusetts and Brooklyn, New York; male bees collected in Boston have smaller mean head widths than males collected in Brooklyn. Finally, we argue that methods for studying captive populations of A. manicatum hold great promise for research into sexual selection, alternative phenotypes, recognition systems, and the evolution of nesting behavior. Megachilidae / introduced species / solitary bee / enclosure methods 1. INTRODUCTION biased sexual size dimorphism unusual among bees (Darwin, 1871; Severinghaus et al., 1981; The European wool-carder bee, Anthidium Shreeves and Field, 2008).
    [Show full text]