Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-08-30
Page range: 63–68
Abstract views: 38
PDF downloaded: 1

Nesting ecology of Megachile (Sayapis) mendozana Cockerell and its synonymy with Megachile (Sayapis) santiaguensis Durante (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Cátedra de Botánica Agrícola, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata,Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
Hymenoptera Megachilini leafcutter bees Argentina trap-nests Melittobia

Abstract

We synonymized M. santiaguensis Durante with M. mendozana Cockerell based on individual siblings of different sex obtained from a trap-nest. Similarity in morphology between individuals of both sexes of M. mendozana, as well as the overlapping distribution, provides further evidence to support this synonymy. Also, we report aspects of nesting ecology and analyze the pollen in cell provisions and/or feces of 11 samples of 4 different trap-nests. Additionally, floral host, associated organisms, and new geographical records are provided.

References

  1. Ascher, J. & Pickering, J. (2011) Bee species guide (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila). http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Apoidea_species. [accessed 12 May 2011].

    Aguiar, C.M.L. & Garófalo, C.A. (2004) Nesting biology of Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Centridini). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 21, 477–486.

    Almeida, D.A.O., Martins, R.P. & Buschini, M.L. (1997). Behavior and nesting dynamics of the Neotropical cavity-nesting specialist bee Megachile assumptionis Schrottky, with comparisons to the Nearctic Megachile brevis Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 6, 344–352.

    Cockerell, T.D.A. (1905) Notes on some bees in the British Museum. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 31, 309–364.

    Cockerell, T.D.A. (1907) Notes on the nomenclature of some Hymenoptera. The Entomologist, 40, 49–51.

    Cockerell, T.D.A. (1914) Descriptions and records of bees. LVIII. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8, 13, 424–433.

    Durante, S.P. & Díaz, N.B. (1996) Estudio taxonómico de las especies argentinas del género Eumegachile Friese (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 40, 327–336.

    Friese, H. (1906) Resultate einer Reise des Herrn A.C. Jensen–Haarup in die Gegand von Mendoza (Argentina). Flora og Fauna, Silkkeborg, Danemark, 3, 89–102.

    Frolich, D.R. & Parker, F.D. (1983) Nest building behavior and development of the sunflower leafcutter bee: Eumegachile (Sayapis) pugnata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Psyche, 90, 193–209.

    Genaro, J.A. (1998) Distribution and synonymy of some Caribbean bees of the genera Megachile and Coelioxys (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Caribbean Journal of Science, 34, 151–152

    González, V.H. (2008) Phylogeny and classification of the bee tribe Megachilini (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Megachilidae), with emphasis on the genus Megachile. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, University of Kansas, 274 pp.

    Jörgensen, P. (1909) Beobachtungen über Blumenbesuch, Biologie, Verbreitung usw. der Bienen von Mendoza (Hym.) Teil II, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1909, 211–227.

    Jörgensen, P. (1912) Revision der Apiden der Provinz Mendoza, Republica Argentina (Hym.). Zoologisches Jahrbuch, Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 32, 89–162.

    Latreille, P.A. (1805) Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Crustacés et des Insectes. Ouvrage faisant suite á l’histoire naturelle générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon, et rédigée par C. S. Sonnini, membre de plusieurs sociétés savantes. Dufart, Paris, 432 pp.

    Martins, R.P. & Almeida, D.A.O. (1994) Is the bee, Megachile assumptionis (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), a cavity-nesting specialist? Journal of Insect Behavior, 7, 193–209.

    Michener, C.D. (2000) The bees of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 872 pp.

    Michener, C.D. (2007) The bees of the World, second edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 992pp.

    Mitchell, T.B. (1943) On the classification of neotropical Megachile (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 36, 656–671.

    Mitchell, T.B. (1980) A generic revision of the megachiline bees of the Western Hemisphere. Contributions if the Department of Entomology North Carolina State University, Raleigh. 95 pp.

    Mocsáry, A. (1892) Hymenoptera in expedition Comitis Belae Szechenyi in China et Tibet a Dom G. Kreitner et L. Lóczy anno 1879 collecta. Természetrajzi Füzetek, 15, 126–131.

    Moure, J.S. (1943) Abelhas de Batatais (Hym. Apoidea). Arquivos do Museu Paranaense, 3, 145–203.

    Moure, J.S., Melo, G.A.R. & DalMolin, A. (2007) Megachilini. In: Moure, J.S., Urban, D. & Melo, G.A.R. (Eds.), Catalogue of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in the Neotropical Region. Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia, Curitiba, pp. 917–1001.

    Schrottky, C. (1909) Himenópteros de Nova Catamarca. Anales de la Sociedad Científica Argentina, 68, 233–272.

    Smith, F. (1879) Descriptions of new species of Hymenoptera in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum, 240 pp.

    Raw, A. (2002) New combinations and synonymies of leafcutter and mason bees of the Americas (Megachile, Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). Zootaxa, 71, 1–43.

    Raw, A. (2007) An annotated catalogue of the leafcutter and mason bees (genus Megachile) of the Neotropics. Zootaxa, 1601, 1–127.

    Rust, R.W., Cambon, G. Torre Gross, J.-P. & Vaissière, B.E. (2004) Nesting biology and foraging ecology of the wood-boring bee Lithurgus chrysurus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 77, 269–279.

    Tepedino, V.J. & Frolich, D.R. (1982) Mortality factors, pollen utilization, and sex ratio in Megachile pugnata Say (Hymenoptera : Megachilidae), a candidate for commercial sunflower pollination. New York Entomological Society, 90, 269–274.

    Torretta, J.P. (2007) Entomofauna relacionada a la polinización del girasol (Helianthus annuus L.) en Argentina. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, University of Buenos Aires, 91 pp.

    Torretta, J.P., Medan, D., Roig Alsina, A. & Montaldo, N.H. (2010) Visitantes florales diurnos del girasol (Helianthus annuus, Asterales: Asteraceae) en Argentina. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 69, 17–32.

    Vachal, J. (1909) Espéces nouvelles ou litigeuses d'Apidae du haut bassin du Parana et des Régions contigües et d'elimitation d'une nouvelle sous-famille Diphaglossinae (Hym). Revue d'Entomologie, 28, 5–72.

    Villanueva-Gutiérrez, R. & Roubik, D.W. (2004) Pollen sources of long-tongued solitary bees (Megachilidae) in the Biosphere Reserve of Quitana Rôo, México. In: Freitas, B.M. & Pereira, J.O.P. (Eds.) Solitary bees. Conservation, rearing and management for pollination. Imprensa Universitária, Fortaleza, pp. 185–190.