Nesting biologies of oxaeine bees.

31 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm. "Appendix: Postdefecating larva of the cleptoparasitic bees Thalestria spinosa (Fabricius) and Triepeolus kathrynae Rozen (Apidae, Nomadinae, Epeolini)": pages 28-31.This study encompasses a number of field encounters by the author and others with nests of representatives of three of the four genera of the little-known New World andrenid subfamily Oxaeinae. Species treated include Protoxaea gloriosa Fox, Oxaea flavescens Klug, O. austera Gerstaecker, and Mesoxaea nigerrima (Friese), leaving the nesting biology of only the monotypic genus Notoxaea completely unknown. Nests, all subterranean, are described and diaƠgrammed, and each is reported to consist of a moderately to very deep main burrow with vertical cells occurring at the lower end attached to the main burrow by subhorizontal lateral tunnels, each of which is closed immediately after egg deposition. To the extent known, eggs, mature larvae, and pupae are described. Two known cleptoparasites of the subfamily are reported: Triepeolus kathrynae Rozen, hosted by P. gloriosa, and Thalestria spinosa (Fabricius) (= T. smaragdina Smith), which attacks nests of both O. flavescens and O. austera. The mature larvae of these cleptoparasitic Nomadinae are described and illustrated as an appendix

Centris bicornuta and Epicharis albofasciata.

20 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.This paper presents detailed comparative descriptions of the mature larvae and eggs of Centris (Heterocentris) bicornuta Mocsáry and Epicharis (Epicharoides) albofasciata Smith as representatives of two genera that are closely related. It strongly suggests that both species, while developing, pass through five larval instars; because the first instar remains mostly pharate within the chorion, it is only as a second instar that it begins to consume provisions and increase in size. There follows an account of how each species changes in functional anatomy from one instar to the next and how each instar of one species compares with the same instar of the other. In response to a recently published paper (Martins and Melo, 2016), which suggested that the tribe Centridini may be polyphyletic because some taxa within Centris share features with corbiculate genera, it is pointed out that all corbiculate genera uniquely share an apomorphy: they bear small paired, elevated, finely setose, sclerotized, and usually pigmented apical tubercles on the thoracic segments of mature larvae. Such thoracic tubercles are unknown in the Centridini or elsewhere among bees

Solitary bee Epicharis albofasciata.

8 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.This paper describes the extensive nesting site and the nesting behavior of a large population of the solitary, ground-nesting bee Epicharis (Epicharoides) albofasciata Smith, found in Trinidad in association with its cleptoparasite Mesoplia (Mesoplia) rufipes (Perty). In addition to describing nests and their cells, it provides information about provisioning, egg deposition, and larval eclosion

Pupae of Nitidulidae

13 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 13)

Panurgine bees

16 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 14)

Eggs of cleptoparasitic bees

36 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-34).The shapes, sizes, and chorionic ornamentation of mature oocytes/eggs are described along with ovariole and mature oocyte numbers of six lineages of primarily South American cleptoparasitic bees. This information is related to whether the eggs are introduced into brood chambers that are still open and being provisioned by the host female or whether the chambers have already been closed by the host females. The lineages, all in the Apidae, are as follows: (1) Kelita (Nomadinae: Brachynomadini), (2) Isepeolus and Melectoides (Apinae: Isepeolini), (3) Leiopodus (Apinae: Protepeolini), (4) Rhathymus (Apinae: Rhathymini), (5) Mesoplia and Epiclopus (Apinae: Ericrocidini), and (6) Exaerete (Apinae: Euglossini). A table in the section on Discussion and Analyses summarizes information on mature oocyte/egg size (egg index), total number of mature oocytes, mature oocytes per ovariole, and ovariole number (ovariole formula) for all taxa of cleptoparasites, worldwide, that have been studied to date. It shows that almost all of the Nomadinae have more than the plesiomorphic number of ovarioles, a feature also found in two of the three studied genera of the Ericrocidini. All other cleptoparasitic lineages lack extra ovarioles. The potential selective advantage of extra ovarioles is discussed. Also discussed is whether the large number of mature oocytes carried by cleptoparasites might result, in part, from the length of time required for chorion deposition after the oocytes reach maturity. The table shows not only that the mature oocytes/eggs of cleptoparasitic bees in general tend to be smaller than those of solitary bees, but that the mature oocytes/eggs of those cleptoparasites that hide their eggs in open host brood cells are significantly smaller than those that introduce their eggs into cells that have been closed by the host. The potential selective advantages of small egg size in cleptoparasitism are explored. Lastly, the unusual modified shapes of mature oocytes/eggs and the thick chorions of cleptoparasites that oviposit in open host cells are attributed to ways of protecting the eggs from discovery and damage by returning host females. Appended is a scanning electron micrograph of the micropyle of the North American Stelis elongativentris Parker (Megachilidae: Anthidiini), the ovariole and oocyte statistics of which have been published earlier. Also appended are a description and illustrations of the oocyte of Coelioxys novomexicana Cockerell (Megachilidae: Megachilini)

Immature stages of and ethological observations on the cleptoparasitic bee tribe Nomadini (Apoidea, Anthophoridae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2638

16 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 15-16)."The mature larvae of the North American cleptoparasitic bees Melanomada sidaefloris (Cockerell), Triopasites penniger (Cockerell), and Paranomada velutina Linsley, and the pupae of M. sidaefloris, P. velutina, and Nomada species are described taxonomically. Cladistic analysis of the characteristics of these mature larvae demonstrates that Melanomada, Triopasites, Paranomada, and probably the South American Kelita are monophyletic and a sister group of the Ammobatini, Nomada Epeolini, Holcopasites, Neopasites, and Neolarra. Hitherto unreported host associations of various species of nomadine parasitic bees are as follows (host in parentheses): M. sidaefloris (Exomalopsis near chlorina Cockerell), T. penniger (Exomalopsis compactula Cockerell), P. velutina (Exomalopsis solani Cockerell), the South American Brachynomada near argentina Holmberg (Psaenythia annulata (Gerstaecker)). Biological data concerning egg deposition, larval habits, search behavior of adults, and other features are given concerning these parasitic taxa. In general the biological information conforms to what is known of other Nomadinae. Triopasites pasitura (Cockerell, 1935) is synonymized with T. penniger (Cockerell, 1894)"--P. [1]

The ethology and systematic relationships of fideliine bees, including a description of the mature larva of Parafidelia (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). American Museum novitates ; no. 2637

15 p. : ill., map ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 15)."Until recently bees of the Fideliidae were considered a distinct family, but new evidence dealing with biology and adult features indicates that they are a sister group of the Megachilidae. Fideliids are relegated to subfamily status (Fideliinae, new status) because of this sister-group relationship, because of the few taxa within the Fideliinae, and because such a classification will encourage further comparisons of them with other megachilids. The following biological information is given concerning the southern African Parafidelia pallidula Cockerell: description of nesting area, nest structure in the ground, provisioning with pollen of Sisyndita spartea, development, cocoon structure, and such adult activities as mate searching, nest excavation, and sleeping. Of special interest is the fact that females nest shallowly in desert regions and provision very large cells with food masses, each of which houses two or three eggs. The mature larva is similar to that of Fidelia villosa Brauns and less similar to that of Neofidelia profuga Moure and Michener, but cladistic analysis of larval similarities and differences of these three taxa is not possible. mature larvae of fidellines are nearly indistinguishable from those of other megachilids. A comparison of the biology of Fidelia, Parafidelia, and Neofidelia is presented as is a tabular comparison of nesting, provisioning, and development characteristics of the Fideliinae, Lithurginae, and Megachilinae"--P. [1]

Lithurgine bees

14 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 13-14)."Mature larvae of Lithurge, sensu stricto, Lithurge (Lithurgopsis), and Trichothurgus are described as is the pupal exuviae of Trichothurgus. An account is given of the nests of Trichothurgus dubius. The mature larvae of the Lithurginae are quite homogeneous and are very similar to those of the other megachilid subfamily, the Megachilinae. Appended is a taxonomic description of the Megachilidae and comparative taxonomic description of the Fideliidae; both descriptions are based on the mature larvae"--P. [1]

Biology and immature stages of the bee genus Meganomia (Hymenoptera, Melittidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2630

14 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 14)."The hibernating, postdefecating larva and pupa of Meganomia binghami (Cockerell) are described and compared with similar stages of other melittid bees. Biological information on this species and on an undescribed species of Meganomia includes the following information: nest ecology, nest configuration and structure, provisioning, development, number of generations a year, mating, sound production and daily activity of adults. The placement of the genus in the Melittidae cannot be evaluated on the basis of larvae because the numerous similarities shared by Meganomia, Melitta, and Macropis are symplesiomorphic. However, there are no larval characteristics that would exclude Meganomia from the family. Cladistic analysis of features of the mature larva indicates that Meganomia is a sister group to all other melittids whose immaturites are known"--p. [1]