Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2014) 38: 444-459 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1309-5 Distribution data on the family Melittidae (Hymenoptera) of Turkey with considerations about their importance as pollinators Hikmet ÖZBEK* Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey Received: 13.10.2013 Accepted: 10.01.2014 Published Online: 20.05.2014 Printed: 19.06.2014 Abstract: The examination of specimens collected from various parts of Turkey, mainly from East Anatolia, and an overview of the literature allows us to reach the conclusion that the Melittidae of Turkey are represented by 3 genera, Dasypoda (14 species), Macropis (2 species), and Melitta (9 species), with a total of 25 species including Dasypoda toroki Michez, 2004, a new record for the Turkish fauna. Dasypoda hirtipes (Fabricius, 1793), Melitta (Melitta) leporina (Panzer, 1799), and M. dimidiata Morawitz, 1876 are the most widespread and abundant species. Dasypoda friesana Schletterer, 1890; D. longigena Schletterer, 1890; D. patinyi Michez, 2002; D. visnaga (Rossi, 1790); Melitta rasmonti Michez, 2007; M. nigricans Alfken, 1905; M. singular Michez, 2012; M. haemorrhoidalis; and M. melanura (Nylander, 1852) are very rare species and most are known from one locality only. The rest of the species are moderately distributed in Turkey. Five species of Dasypoda and 3 species of Melitta have type localities from Anatolia; of these, D. longigena, M. bicollaris, M. singular, M. rasmonti, and D. warnckei are endemic to Anatolia. New distribution areas were added for each species and the plant species visited were included. Although the genus Dasypoda visits mostly wild flowers, D. hirtipes also frequently visits sunflowers and it is an important pollinator of this plant. In the case of the genus Macropis, females collect oil and pollen from the flowers of Lysimachia (Primulaceae) as larval food. Melitta leporina, M. dimidiata, and M. bicollaris are important pollinators of fodder crops, such as alfalfa, sainfoin, and various clover species and some other legumes. Key words: Hymenoptera, Melittidae, Dasypoda, Macropis, Melitta, fauna, new record, pollinator, Turkey 1. Introduction Members of this rather small family are found Bees are in the Apiformes group of Apoidea (Hymenoptera), primarily in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere which is a diverse group of pollen-eaters comprising and Africa, the greatest number of genera and species approximately 18,000 described species (Michener, 2007; being found in warm xeric areas. Maximal diversity Michez et al., 2009). They occur in most ecosystems occurs in southern Africa, where all 3 subfamilies occur. where they are usually the most important pollinators, The Palearctic region also supports a moderate number and therefore they play a key role in ecosystem function of species and genera. In the Nearctic region the family is rare, unknown in tropical America and Australia, as well (O’Toole, 1993; Waser and Ollerton, 2006). Currently, 9 as in the Indo-Malayan area (Michener, 2007; Michez et bee families are recognized, and Melittidae is one of the al., 2009). smallest bee families with more than 200 species in 14 Michener (1981) divided the Melittidae into 3 genera (Engel, 2005; Michener, 2007; Michez et al., 2009, subfamilies: Meganomiinae, Dasypodainae, and 2012). Melittinae. Dasypodainae and Melittinae occur in Turkey The family Melittidae includes short-tongued bees. and Meganomiinae is known from Africa and Arabia only Michener (2007) emphasized that no single character is (Michener, 1981), whereas, according to Engel (2001), the unique to Melittidae, although the combination of a short, Melittidae are subdivided into 4 subfamilies: Dasypodainae, pointed glossa and unspecialized first 2 segments of the Macropidinae, Meganomiinae, and Melittinae. labial palpus with a slender, V-shaped lorum; tapering The Dasypodainae are relatively species-rich, mentum; and elongate, fully exposed middle coxa as in comprising more than 100 species in xeric areas of both long-tongued bees separates the Melittidae from other the Old World and the Nearctic region (Michener, 2007; short-tongued bee families. Michez et al., 2009, 2010). Dasypoda is the only widespread * Correspondence: [email protected] 444 ÖZBEK / Turk J Zool genus, which occurs from the temperate to the xeric areas Erzurum, Dasypoda pyriformis tubera from İçel (Mersin), of the Palearctic, including Turkey. Dasypoda determines and D. braccata anatolica from Konya. Recently, additional the northern limit of the Dasypodainae to 62°N (Michez species were described from Turkey: Dasypoda warnckei et al., 2004a). The other Dasypodainae genera, Capicola Michez, 2004 from Kayseri; Melitta rasmonti Michez, Friese, 1911; Eremaphanta Popov, 1940; Hesperapis 2007 from Hakkari; and M. singular Michez, 2012 from Cockerell, 1898; and Samba Friese, 1908, are each endemic Nevşehir (Michez et al., 2004a, 2012; Michez and Eardley, in different Old World and Nearctic semideserts (Michez 2007). Local researcher Özbek (1976, 1979, 1980, 2008, and Pauly, 2012). The Melittinae comprise 4 genera: Melitta 2011) highlighted the importance of various Melitta Kirby, 1802; Macropis Panzer, 1809; Rediviva Friese, 1911; species on the pollination of different fodder crops, such and Redivivoides Michener, 1981 (Michener, 1981). Melitta as alfalfa, sainfoin, and red clover. and Macropis have Holarctic distributions; Melitta is the The aim of this paper is to present the latest knowledge of most widespread and probably one of the most diverse, the Turkish Melittidae bees, their geographic distribution, while Rediviva and Redivivoides are endemic in Africa plant species visited, and biogeographical affinities. The (Michener, 2007; Michez and Eardley, 2007). Two genera, present contribution is based on material collected from Macropis and Melitta, occur in Turkey. various parts of Anatolia by the author and his colleagues Some important studies have been conducted on since the 1960s and literature data. Melittidae in the Palearctic: Quilis (1928) reviewed the Spanish species of Dasypoda. The West Palearctic region 2. Materials and methods of Melittidae was studied by Warncke (1973), who listed Most of the bee specimens were collected by sweeping 17 Melitta species including 4 new species and several with an insect net from various habitats in different subspecies, 3 Macropis species, and 18 Dasypoda species localities, mainly in eastern Anatolia, since the 1960s. The including 1 new species and several subspecies. The catches of bees were made during the flowering periods of Melittidae species of China and Dasypoda species of plants, between April and September. In addition to bees, European Russia were studied by Wu (1978) and Radchenko the flowering plants that particular bee species visited and Pesenko (1989), respectively. An annotated account of were noted or the samples were picked. Identification of the species of Dasypoda was provided by Baker (2002), who the bees was verified by comparison with the preserved described D. litigator from Iran. Michez (2002) described specimens, which were determined by the late K Warncke, D. patinyi from Syria. In a phylogenetic study, Michez et al. late YA Pesenko, and B Tkalcu at the Entomology Museum (2004b) recognized 4 subgenera. Michez and Pauly (2012) of Erzurum, Turkey (EMET). Additionally, the keys described D. riftensis from Ethiopia. This species was the provided by Warncke (1973) and Michez et al. (2004a) first record of the genus Dasypoda in sub-Saharan Africa. were followed. Certain undetermined specimens were Most of the genera in Melittidae were revised: Michez determined by D Michez. Host-plant data were based on et al. (2004a) revised the West Palearctic Dasypoda and the field records and labels of pinned specimens of EMET. recognized 28 species, including 4 new species. Michez The material mentioned in this study was deposited in the and Eardley (2007) provided an overview of the literature collection of EMET, along with a few specimens deposited and their examination of many specimens from various in the collection of the American Museum of Natural collections, including type materials, enabled the first History (AMNH). monographic revision of the genus Melitta. They listed 43 species, including 2 new ones in the 2 subgenera Melitta s. 3. Results str. and Cilissa. More recently, Michez et al. (2012) described The examination of the specimens collected from various 4 Melitta species. Michez and Patiny (2005) revised the oil- parts of the country and an overview of the literature allow collecting bee genus Macropis Panzer and described a new us to reach the conclusion that the Melittidae of Turkey are species from Laos. Other revisional studies included those represented by 3 genera, Dasypoda (14 species), Macropis on Capicola Friese (Michez et al., 2007a), Eremaphanta (2 species), and Melitta (9 species), with a total of 25 Popov (Michez and Patiny, 2006), Hesperapis Cockerell species. (Stage, 1966; Michener, 1981), Promelitta Warncke 3.1. Genus Dasypoda Latreille, 1802 (Michez et al., 2007b), Meganomia Cockerell (Michener, The genusDasypoda is characterized by the presence 1981), and Rediviva Friese (Whitehead et al., 2008). of only 2 submarginal cells on the fore wing and a well- Studies on the family Melittidae in Turkey are very developed scopa of the female hind leg, black body, vertex restricted. Warncke (1973) presented a catalog