Unusual nesting behavior in Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17161/jom.v0i69.6532Keywords:
Apoidea, Megachilidae, Megachilinae, Megachile, nestingAbstract
The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee, Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata (Fabricius), is one of the most studied solitary bees in the world. Although its nesting biology is well documented, it has not yet been reported nesting in cavities that expose the nests to open environments. Reported here for the first time is evidence of this species nesting in an unusual manner which would subject the natal cells to exposure and increased parasite attack.
Metrics
References
Cardoso, C.F., & F.A. Silveira. 2012. Nesting biology of two species of Megachile (Moureapis) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in a semideciduous forest reserve in southeastern Brazil. Apidologie 43(1): 71–81.
Eickwort, G.C., R.W. Matthews, & J. Carpenter. 1981. Observations on the nesting behavior of Megachile rubi and M. texana with a discussion of the significance of soil nesting in the evolution of megachilid bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 54(3): 557–570.
Eves, J.D. 1970. Biology of Monodontomerus obscurus Westwood, a parasite of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Torymidae: Megachilidae). Melanderia 4: 1–18.
Fortel, L., M. Henry, L. Guilbaud, H. Mouret, & B.E. Vaissière. 2016. Use of human-made nesting structures by wild bees in an urban environment. Journal of Insect Conservation 20(2): 239–253.
Fye, R.E. 1965. Biology of Apoidea taken in trap nests in northwestern Ontario (Hymenoptera). The Canadian Entomologist 97(8): 863–877.
Graenicher, S. 1906. On the habits and life-history of Leucospis affinis (Say). A parasite of bees. Bulletin of the Wisconsin Natural History Society 4(4): 153–159.
Hobbs, G.A., & C.E. Lilly. 1954. Ecology of species of Megachile Latreille in the mixed prairie region of southern Alberta with special reference to pollination of alfalfa. Ecology 35(4): 453–462.
Hobbs, G.A., & M.D. Krunic. 1971. Comparative behavior of three chalcidoid (Hymenoptera) parasites of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, in the laboratory. The Canadian Entomologist 103(5): 674–685.
Koerber, T., & J.T. Medler. 1958. A trap-nest survey of solitary bees and wasps in Wisconsin, with biological notes. Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters 47: 53–63.
Krombein, K.V. 1967. Trap-Nesting Wasps and Bees: Life Histories, Nests, and Associates. Smithsonian Press; Washington, D.C.; vi+570 pp.
MacIvor, J.S. In press. Cavity-nest boxes for solitary bees: A century of design and research. Apidologie
MacIvor, J.S., & A.E. Moore. 2013. Bees collect polyurethane and polyethylene plastics as novel nest materials. Ecosphere 4(12): 155 [1–6].
MacIvor, J.S., & L. Packer. 2015. ‘Bee hotels’ as tools for native pollinator conservation: A premature verdict? PLoS ONE 10(3):e0122126 [1–13].
Medler, J.T., & T.W. Koerber. 1958. Biology of Megachile relativa Cresson (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in trap-nests in Wisconsin. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 51(4): 337–344.
Michener, C.D. 2007. The Bees of the World [2nd Edition]. Johns Hopkins University Press; Baltimore, MD; xvi+[i]+953 pp., +20 pls.
O’Neill, K.M., & J.F. O’Neill. 2016. Brood parasitism of the resin bee Megachile campanulae (Robertson) by Coelioxys modesta Smith (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 89(2): 117–127.
Orr, M.C., Z.M. Portman, & T.L. Griswold. 2015. Megachile (Megachile) montivaga (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) nesting in live thistle (Asteraceae: Cirsium). Journal of Melittology 48: 1–6.
Packer, L. 1987. The triungulin larva of Nemognatha (Pauronemognatha) punctulata LeConte (Coleoptera: Meloidae) with a description of the nest of its host – Megachile brevis pseudobrevis Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 60(2): 280–287.
Pitts-Singer, T.L. 2007. Olfactory response of megachilid bees, Osmia lignaria, Megachile rotundata, and M. pugnata, to individual cues from old nest cavities. Environmental Entomology 36(2): 402–408.
Pitts-Singer, T.L., & J.H. Cane. 2011. The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata: The world’s most intensively managed solitary bee. Annual Review of Entomology 56: 221–237.
Ravoet, J., L. De Smet, I. Meeus, G. Smagghe, T. Wenseleers, & D.C. de Graaf. 2014. Widespread occurrence of honey bee pathogens in solitary bees. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 122: 55–58.
Richards, K.W. 1978. Comparisons of nesting materials used for the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile pacifica (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). The Canadian Entomologist 110(8): 841–846.
Richards, K.W. 1984. Alfalfa leafcutter bee management in Western Canada. Agriculture Canada Publication 1495E; Ottawa, Canada; 53 pp.
Sheffield, C.S. 2008. Summer bees for spring crops? Potential problems with Megachile rotundata (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) as a pollinator of lowbush blueberry (Ericaceae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 81(3): 276–287.
Sheffield, C.S., P.G. Kevan, S.M. Westby, & R.F. Smith. 2008. Diversity of cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) within apple orchards and wild habitats in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist 140(2): 235–249.
Sheffield, C.S., C. Ratti, L. Packer, & T. Griswold. 2011. Leafcutter and mason bees of the genus Megachile Latreille (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Canada and Alaska. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 18: 1–107.
Stephen, W.P. 1956. Notes on the biologies of Megachile frigida Smith and M. inermis Provancher (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 32(3): 95–101.
Stephen, W.P. 1961. Artificial nesting sites for the propagation of the leaf-cutter bee, Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata, for alfalfa pollination. Journal of Economic Entomology 54(5): 989–993.
Stephen, W.P., & C.E. Osgood. 1965. Influence of tunnel size and nesting medium on sex ratios in a leaf-cutter bee, Megachile rotundata. Journal of Economic Entomology 58(5): 965–968.
Stephen, W.P., & R.W. Every. 1970. Nesting media for the propagation of leaf cutter bees. Fact Sheet 175, Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service; Corvallis, OR; 2 pp.
Tepedino, V.J., & F.D. Parker. 1986. Effect of rearing temperature on mortality, second-generation emergence, and size of adult in Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 79(4): 974–977.
Tscharntke, T., A. Gathmann, & I. Steffan?Dewenter. 1998. Bioindication using trap?nesting bees and wasps and their natural enemies: Community structure and interactions. Journal of Applied Ecology 35(5): 708–719.
Zillikens, A., & J. Steiner. 2004. Nest architecture, life cycle and cleptoparasite of the Neotropical leaf-cutting bee Megachile (Chrysosarus) pseudanthidioides Moure (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77(3): 193–202.
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for articles published in Journal of Melittology is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution and permission of the authors, in educational and other non-commercial settings.