Giffard, W.M.

Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society

ScholarSpace at University of Hawai'i at Manoa

53Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera).BY W. M. GIFFARD.(Presented at meeting of January 6, 1921.)On December 22, Mr. Muir and I were at Waialua andobserved the males of Lithurgus albofimbriatus swarmingaround the exit holes of Xylocopa varipuncta in part of anold tree-trunk, which had been utilized as a fence-post. It wasquite evident that the males were waiting for the emergence offemales. At the time no Xylocopa were noticed in the immediate neighborhood. Five days later, December 27, I againvisited the place for the special purpose of cutting away aportion of the fence-post for further study and examination.The swarming of Lithurgus males, previously noticed, had entirely ceased. In a wait of one hour only two solitary specimens on the wing were seen in the immediate neighborhood(one male and one female), but Xylocopa were flying aroundthe post, entering and emerging from their burrows in numbers.Bringing the cut sections to Honolulu and bagging themfor better observation, emergence of both Lithurgus and Xlyo-copa began on the day following in large numbers, so thatat the expiration of seven days nineteen males and twenty-threefemales of Lithurgus and twenty-two males and, twenty-sevenfemales of Xylocopa had emerged from two sections of post,measuring in all 2l/2 feet by 8 inches in diameter. (Note.—Alarge proportion of the Lithurgus and some of the Xylocopawere found to be attacked by large swarms of Acari. Thesehad massed themselves in swarms to the propodeum and anterior segments of the abdomen.)Upon opening the sections for further observation, thechannels of both Lithurgus and Xylocopa were plainly seen,together with many old cocoons of the former and others containing pupae. The larvae of Lithurgus were not observed, norwere the pupae of Xylocopa seen. It is safe to say that quitea few more Lithurgus would have emerged had the splittingof the sections of the post been further postponed. ThereProc. Haw. Ent. Soe., Y, No. 1, October, 1922.54remained in the channels two males and one female, and onepartly grown larva of Xylocopa.In addition to the above Aculeates, the sections of post contained large swarms of Pheidole megacephala, which had takenpossession of the old channels of the Lithurgus. It was observed by Muir and Timberlake at the time the sections weresplit that Lithurgus apparently filled up the most of its oldchannels by the frass taken from those newly constructed, thisfrass even tightly packing up the interior of the old cocoons.From beneath the bark and in some of the channels wereswarms of the Tenebrionid beetle (Alphitobius piceus) ; alsoone example of Oxydema fusiforme, also a number of smallRoaches, one Centipede, and the larva of an Elaterid beetle.

Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera)

Giffard, W. M.

DigitalCommons@USU

Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Ga Bee Lab 10-1-1922 Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera) W. M. Giffard Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ga  Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Giffard, W. M., "Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera)" (1922). Ga. Paper 215. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_ga/215 This Conference Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Bee Lab at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ga by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@usu.edu. t ~·-···~-·•:.; J r \ • : ,, ' I '· .., :· ;. ... ... <-.:.rt:~ < ~-: .. { ··'!-'. -~:,.;.~fa::-4.,, 53 Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera). BY W. M. GIFFARD. (Presented at meeting of .January 6, 1921.) On December 22, Mr. Muir and I were at vVaialua and observed the males oCLitliurgus _ albofinibria.t11s swarming around the -exit holes of Xylocopa varipuncta in part of an old tree-trunk, which had been utilized as a fence-post. It was quite evident that the males were waiting for the emergence of females. At the time no Xylocopa were noticed in the imme-cliate neighborhood . Five days later, December 27, I again visited the place for the special purpose of cutting away a portion of the fence-post for further study and examination. The swarming of Lithurg11s males, previously noticed, had en-tirely ceased. In a wait of one hour only two solitary speci-mens on the wing were seen in the immediate neighborhood (one male and one female), but XJlocopa were flying around the post, entering and emerging from their burrows in numbers. Bringing the cut sections to Honolulu and bagging them for better observation, emergence of both Litlwrgus and Xlyo-CCJpa. began on the day following in large numbers , so that at the expiration of seven days nineteen males and h~nty-three females of Lithurgus and twenty-two males and twe·nty-seven females of Xylocopa had emerged from two sections. of post, 111easuring in all 2¼ feet by 8 inches in diameter. (Note.-A large proportion of the Lithurgus and some of the X ylocopa were found to be attacked by large swarms of Acari. These had massed themselves in swarms to the propodeum and an-krior segments of the abdomen .) Upon opening the sections for further ohservation, the channels of both Lithur gu s and XJlocopa were plainly seen, together with many old cocoons of the former and others con:. taining pupae. The larvae of Lithurgus were not observed, nor were the pupa ·e of Xylocopa seen. It is safe to say that quite a few more Lithurgus would have emerged had the splitting of the sections of the post been further postponed. . There Proc. Haw. Ent. Soc., Y, No. 1, October, 1922. -- - --' .. ..... ·i:'t' " :..~, ... ~ -.t .' ;~?' ~.,:- I 54 - - - ---- ----- ---·- - . -- J- ·. remained in the channels two males and one female, and one partly grown larva of X 3·locopa. In addition to the above Aculeates, the sections of post con-tained large swarms of Pheidole megacephala, which had taken possession . of the old channels of the Lithurgus . It was ob-served by 1\Iuir and Timberlake at the time the sections were split that L ithurgus apparently .filled up the most of its old channels by the frass taken from those newly constrllcted, this frass even tightly packing up the interior of the old cocoons. From beneath the bark and in some of the channels were swarms of the Tenebrionid beetle ( Alphitobius pice11s) ; also one example of OxJdema fusiforrne , also a numher of small Roache s, one Centipede, and the larva of an Elaterid beetle. • ,, .,. .ff (t .! \ f .. ~ r i ' I '( ) . \ ' ; ) tiJ •. Lei wJ ablj sp~ fen', negli ·' ca, Spf of) ', aim} in tJ-sist' whi} \ in i f the 1 the -as \ tan~ of tr spec/ conv: pecj feea rel./ stuC: • ·1 nativ ; man) A, have . -~ ' Pr / • 1 - ~· · . . .... ' ~ l.. ,..~- • , . '. ,._. .. Lf't • ~ ""·-'tr.;••- • ;·Al·~ -'t. ·. l ;.: fo.r. r,;; .;,fh ~u" i, nf,)~8 - Onlv- Reoroductl~n ·o, Thi'o I fem rlav Co~-stitute Cc1pyr1ghflnlr !i,g~mqnt ·· Insect C (P . I The week b1 ~ farm house nei time for collecd perature dropp ~ capt1,1res were 1 In a cavit)i brought in froJ black wood an~ a series of sr1 queer brown ~1 collected. Th Xe11od1tsa ca, · had never bef beetles and thj hairs on the :j beetles . An ~ In anothe rlj b~rer, openin wasp , contai1~ -four pretty , 'J of February l middle of , tlj Tetrasticl111s l wasp, Cerotq has been pr~ a ·parasite o 1 so, the tru e i emergence s # of the nest, t tcrna._: four two cells c ~ • Meso.,t,·,_ t Jclentifh ·j types in th ~ 

English

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1214&context=bee_lab_ga

Observations on Xylocopa and Lithurgus (Hymenoptera)

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

ScholarSpace at University of Hawai'i at Manoa

DigitalCommons@USU