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Megachile xylocopoides Smith, 1853

Properties

Scientific Name: Megachile xylocopoides Smith, 1853

Common Name: Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee

Taxonomy

Megachile xylocopoides Smith, 1853: 189 [♀, ♂].

     Syntypes ♀, ♂. USA, by E. Doubleday, Esq. [BMNH(E) no. 17a.2419].

 

Taxonomic notes: Mitchell (1937: 82) indicated that the type was a ♀ from the United States in the British Museum. As Smith (1853: 189) described both the ♀ and ♂ but did not indicate how many specimens of each sex he examined and did not select a specimen of either sex as a "type", we have to regard the material in the BMNH indicated above (i.e., a ♀ specimen) as part of a syntype series.

DNA Barcode Index Number (BIN): BOLD:AAJ3056

Biology: Krombein (1967b: 329) described the nesting biology in detail, and recorded Coelioxys dolichos Fox, 1890 is a nest parasite (Krombein 1967b: 330). Burks (1963: 57) recorded Tetrastichus megachildis Burks, 1963 (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) as a nest parasite.

Distribution in Canada: Sheffield et al. 2011 [ON, introduced].

Though not native to Canada, this species which is native to the eastern United States (Mitchell 1937, 1962) was intercepted in wood arriving in Niagara Falls, Ontario by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Sheffield et al. 2011). A single larva was identified via DNA barcoding, and these adults (Figs. 1 and 2) were subsequently reared from this nest. This species in not believed to have established in Canada.

References

Mitchell TB (1937) A revision of the genus Megachile in the Nearctic region. Part VI. Taxonomy of subgenera Argyropile, Leptorachis, Pseudocentron, Acentron and Melanosarus (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 63(1): 45-83.https://www.jstor.org/stable/25077387

Mitchell TB (1962) Bees of the Eastern United States. Volume 2. North Carolina Agricultural Experimental Station Technical Bulletin 152, Raleigh, 557 pp.

Smith F (1853) Catalogue of Hymenopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. British Museum, London, 198 pp.

Sheffield CS, Dumesh S, Cheryomina M (2011) Hylaeus punctatus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), a bee species new to Canada, with notes on other non-native species. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 142: 29-43.

Krombein KV (1967b) Trap-nesting wasps and bees: life histories, nests, and associates. Smithsonian Press, Washington, D.C. vi + 570 pp.

Burks BD (1963) Ten new reared species of Tetrastichus (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 76: 47-58.

Sociality: Solitary
Nesting: Cavity Renter
Pollen Specialization: Polylectic
Wintering Stage: Mature Larva

Crop Preference: Not Available
Non Crop Preference: Not Available

Distribution: Ontario
Ecozone: Mixwood Plains

Figure 1. Female <em>Megachile xylocopoides</em> Smith, reared from wood intercepted in ON, Canada; lateral view
Figure 1. Female Megachile xylocopoides Smith, reared from wood intercepted in ON, Canada; lateral view
Figure 2. Male <em>Megachile xylocopoides</em> Smith, reared from wood intercepted in ON, Canada; lateral view
Figure 2. Male Megachile xylocopoides Smith, reared from wood intercepted in ON, Canada; lateral view

Distribution Map