Megachile subexilis Cockerell, 1908
Properties
Scientific Name: Megachile subexilis Cockerell, 1908
Common Name: Megachile subexilis
Taxonomy
Megachile subexilis Cockerell, 1908: 292 [♀, ♂, in key].
Lectotype ♀, designated by Mitchell (1937: 395). USA, Colorado, Boulder, 4 August 1908, by S.H. Rohwer [USNM no. 12206].
Megachile semiexilis Cockerell, 1908: 292 [♀, ♂, in key]. Synonymy by Mitchell (1937: 394).
Holotype ♀. USA, ♀, New Mexico, West Fork of Gila River, 16 July [no year provided], by C.H.T. Townsend [CAS no. 15656].
Taxonomic notes: Cockerell (1914: 431) indicated that some females of Megachile subexilis Cockerell, 1908 tend to have the apical fascia of the metasoma faintly cream colour instead of white.
Michener (1951: 1183) and Snelling (1990: 22) indicated that Megachile subexilis was described from the ♀ only, though the key in which species were separated, both sexes are discussed, and a date range of 24 July – 4 August 1908 is provided, suggesting syntypes. As Mitchell (1937: 395) recognized the ♀, collected on 4 August 1908 as the “type”, that mention is hereby considered a lectotype designation.
DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN):
Biology: Hicks (1927) and Krombein (1967b: 343) discussed its nesting biology and use of resin in nest building for this species. Hicks (1927) recorded Coelioxys gilensis Cockerell, 1896 as a nest parasite of this species; Krombein (1967a: 476) also recorded Dioxys pomonae pomonae Cockerell, 1910 as a nest parasite.
Distribution in Canada: Criddle et al. 1924 [NT, BC, AB, SK, MB]; Buckell 1950 [BC].
Though Criddle et al. (1924: 100) and Buckell (1950: 27) recorded this species from Canada, no specimens have been examined that verify but its presence in Canada, but southern records are plausible, but these may represent Megachile angelarum Cockerell, 1902 [BC] and Megachile campanulae (Robertson, 1903) [eastern]. However, the record of “Ft. Norman, McKenzie Rv.” NT would be well out of the range for this species.
References
Cockerell TDA (1914) Descriptions and records of bees.-LVIII. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 8 13(76): 424-433.https://doi.org/10.1080/00222931408693504
Mitchell TB (1937) A revision of the genus Megachile in the Nearctic region. Part VIII. Taxonomy of the subgenus Chelostomoides, addenda and index (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 63(4): 381-421.https://www.jstor.org/stable/25077402
Snelling RR (1990) A review of the native North American bees of the genus Chalicodoma (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Contributions in Science, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 421: 1-39.
Cockerell TDA (1908) New American bees.—VII. The Entomologist 41: 292-294.
Criddle N, Curran CH, Viereck HL, Buckell ER (1924) The entomological record, 1923. Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario 54: 87-102.
Michener CD (1951) Family Megachilidae. In: Muesebeck CF, Krombein KV, Townes HK (Eds) Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico Synoptic Catalog. 2. United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Monograph, Washington. Pp. 1136-1186.
Buckell ER (1950) Record of bees from British Columbia: Megachilidae. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 46: 21-31.
Krombein KV (1967a) Superfamily Apoidea. In: Krombein KV, Burks BD. Hymenoptera of America North of Mexico Synoptic Catalog (Agriculture Monograph No. 2). Second supplement . United States Government Printing Office, Washington. Pp. 422-520.
Krombein KV (1967b) Trap-nesting wasps and bees: life histories, nests, and associates. Smithsonian Press, Washington, D.C. vi + 570 pp.
Hicks CH (1927) Megachile subexilis Ckll., a resin-working bee (Hymen.: Apoidea). Entomological News 37: 17-21.
Sociality: Solitary
Nesting: Cavity Renter
Wintering Stage: Mature Larva
Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Not Available
Distribution: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan
Ecozone: Prairie, Western Interior Basin