Nesting ecology of sympatric species of wool carder bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Anthidium) in South America

作者：Vitale Nydia^*; Gonzalez Victor H; Vazquez Diego P

来源：Journal of Apicultural Research, 2017, 56(5): 497-509.

DOI：10.1080/00218839.2017.1370902

• nest architecture
• solitary bees
• native pollinators
• host-plant specialization
• nesting behavior

Using a total of 14,043 trap-nests (potential nest for bees), we documented the nest architecture, host plants, seasonality, and associated organisms of the following six native species of Anthidium (Megachilidae: Anthidiini) from the Central Monte Desert in Mendoza, Argentina: A. andinum Jo "rgensen; A. chubuti Cockerell; A. decaspilum Moure; A. friesei Cockerell; A. rubripes Friese; and A. vigintipunctatum Friese. Each species exhibited unique features in the arrangement of the fibers used to make their cells, and in the type of material used in the nest plug. Bees used a total of 41 plant species, but relied heavily on Prosopis flexuosa (Fabaceae) and Larrea spp. (Zygophyllaceae). Most bee species are univoltine and exhibited delayed emergence. The oil beetle Nemognatha sp. (Coleoptera: Meloidae) and the cuckoo wasp Chrysis striatula Bohart (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) are recorded for the first time for Anthidium. Nemognatha sp. was the most common brood parasite but C. striatula caused the highest brood mortality.

• 出版日期2017