Leioproctus imitatus | |
---|---|
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Colletidae |
Genus: | Leioproctus |
Species: | L. imitatus |
Binomial name | |
Leioproctus imitatus Smith, 1853 | |
Distribution map of iNaturalist Leioproctus spp. sightings. (All 9 NZ species, not just L. imitatus) |
Leioproctus imitatus is a species of plaster bee in the family Colletidae. It is a small, black, solitary bee that is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [2]
Leioproctus imitatus was first described in 1853 by Frederick Smith. This written description was published in the Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum (No. 898) [3] using a specimen collected by Rev. John Frederick Churton in Auckland. [4] [2] The lectotype specimen is still held today at the Natural History Museum, London. [5] Leioproctus imitatus Smith is the type species of the subgenus Leioproctus by designation of Cockerell 1905. [6] [2]
Leioproctus imitatus is a black, hairy bee ranging from 5 –13.4 mm. The legs and thorax are covered in hairs ranging from black to yellow to white, although hair colour typically fades with age. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is mostly hairless showing the shiny black cuticle underneath. The clypeus and supraclypeus are typically hairy while the forehead is often mostly hairless, likely to avoid interference with the ocelli. Supraclypeus is almost completely flat and is densely punctured throughout. [3] [7]
Hairs on young males are often orange, fading as they age. [7] Females carry pollen externally on scopae. [7]
Leioproctus imitatus is endemic to New Zealand. [2] [ citation needed ]L. imitatus is currently believed to be widely distributed across New Zealand and can be found in the North and South islands and many coastal islands including Stuart Island/Rakiura. [2]
Although there have been no formal nationwide population studies on L. imitatus or the Leioproctus genus, estimates can still be made using iNaturalist and local studies.
This distribution map shown was created with all sightings of Leioproctus on iNaturalist. Because specific Leioproctus species can be difficult to identify, most sightings only go to genus, but there is high habitat similarity between species so this map still shows the national range of the genus.
In 2007, a 3-year study done on Native bees in Whangārei found that 27% of the 782 bees collected were L. imitatus, showing it is one of the more common species in the genus. [7]
Leioproctus imitatus are solitary mining bees. Their preferred habitat is ground with penetrable substrate with sufficient nearby food resources. This can range from forest undergrowth to roadside ditches to even sandy costal banks, provided there is sufficient food. [2] L. imitatus like the rest of Leioproctus need warm temperatures (at least 15°C) before leaving their nest, typically waiting until the nest entrance is bathed in sun. Because of this, most nests face towards the north, or if in flat ground, will be well exposed to maximise heat absorption. [7]
They prefer dry ground and will often dig horizontal tunnels in banks and cliffs, but nest architecture shows they can also make sink traps, potentially to prevent water from entering cells, suggesting they can tolerate wet environments. [7] This tolerance to wet conditions has been observed in multiple studies where as long as it was reasonably warm, bees would be seen, no matter the rainfall. [8]
They almost always nest within 10 metres of at least one large food source, such a Pōhutukawa tree or a clump of smaller Mānuka trees. Their ability to utilise a wide range of substrates as nest sites and the national spread of suitable food sources allows L. imitatus to nest throughout the country. [7]
All their nutrients come directly or indirectly from pollen and nectar. Pollen is the main source of protein, required for growth, so it is consumed mostly during the larval stage, while nectar provides sugar, which provides the energy adults and larvae need throughout their life.
Leioproctus imitatus primarily forages on the flowers of native species in the Myrtaceae family, such as Pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa), Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) and Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium). [2] [7] This species also shows some foraging plasticity and will forage on introduced species if necessary. L. imitatus has been recorded visiting kiwifruit flowers, [2] and agricultural studies have caught them in clover pastures and orchards. [9]
Leioproctus imitatus will forage up to 2 hours in one session and prefer to stay within 10 m (33 ft) of the nesting site. They show almost no territorial behaviours, and often nest and feed within close proximity of each other. [7]
Leioproctus imitatus overwinters as diapausing prepupae in cells before they pupate and begin appearing in spring or early summer between September and December. Males typically appear first closely followed by females. Immediately they mate and the females begin nest mining while the males continue breeding. The males soon die while the females finish their nests and start producing cells. Larvae require a lot of pollen and nectar to grow and survive to adulthood, and the females have a lot of environmental pressures, so most only make 10-30 cells in their 6-8 week lifetime, before perishing. After the eggs are laid, the larvae hatch around 72 hours later and consume all stored food over the next 10 days, then over the next few weeks become prepupae and diapause until the following spring. [7] [10]
A bumblebee is any of over 250 species in the genus Bombus, part of Apidae, one of the bee families. This genus is the only extant group in the tribe Bombini, though a few extinct related genera are known from fossils. They are found primarily in higher altitudes or latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, although they are also found in South America, where a few lowland tropical species have been identified. European bumblebees have also been introduced to New Zealand and Tasmania. Female bumblebees can sting repeatedly, but generally ignore humans and other animals.
Megachile rotundata, the alfalfa leafcutting bee, is a European bee that has been introduced to various regions around the world. As a solitary bee species, it does not build colonies or store honey, but is a very efficient pollinator of alfalfa, carrots, other vegetables, and some fruits. Because of this, farmers often use M. rotundata as a pollination aid by distributing M. rotundata prepupae around their crops. Each female constructs and provisions her own nest, which is built in old trees or log tunnels. Being a leafcutter bee, these nests are lined with cut leaves. These bees feed on pollen and nectar and display sexual dimorphism. This species has been known to bite and sting, but it poses no overall danger unless it is threatened or harmed, and its sting has been described as half as painful as a honey bee's.
Osmia lignaria, commonly known as the orchard mason bee or blue orchard bee, is a megachilid bee that makes nests in natural holes and reeds, creating individual cells for its brood that are separated by mud dividers. Unlike carpenter bees, it cannot drill holes in wood. O. lignaria is a common species used for early spring fruit bloom in the United States and Canada, though a number of other Osmia species are cultured for use in pollination.
Hylaeus is a large and diverse cosmopolitan genus within the bee family Colletidae. This genus is also known as the yellow-faced bees or masked bees. This genus is the only truly globally distributed colletid, occurring on all continents except Antarctica.
Leioproctus, the hairy colletid bee, is a genus in the plaster bee family Colletidae. Its members are primarily found in Australasia and temperate South America, and include the most common native bees in New Zealand.
Osmia bicornis is a species of mason bee, and is known as the red mason bee due to its covering of dense gingery hair. It is a solitary bee that nests in holes or stems and is polylectic, meaning it forages pollen from various different flowering plants. These bees can be seen aggregating together and nests in preexisting hollows, choosing not to excavate their own. These bees are not aggressive; they will only sting if handled very roughly and are safe to be closely observed by children. Females only mate once, usually with closely related males. Further, females can determine the sex ratio of their offspring based on their body size, where larger females will invest more in diploid females eggs than small bees. These bees also have trichromatic colour vision and are important pollinators in agriculture.
Xylocopa sonorina, the valley carpenter bee or Hawaiian carpenter bee, is a species of carpenter bee found from western Texas to northern California, and the eastern Pacific islands. Females are black while males are golden-brown with green eyes.
Halictus ligatus is a species of sweat bee from the family Halictidae, among the species that mine or burrow into the ground to create their nests. H. ligatus, like Lasioglossum zephyrus, is a primitively eusocial bee species, in which aggression is one of the most influential behaviors for establishing hierarchy within the colony, and H. ligatus exhibits both reproductive division of labor and overlapping generations.
Leioproctus fulvescens is a species of solitary bee belonging to the family Colletidae. This bee is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, and its yellow-orange hair distinguishes it from all other New Zealand species of Leioproctus.
Plebeia remota is a species of stingless bee that is in the family Apidae and tribe Meliponini. Bees of the species are normally found in a few states in southern Brazil and their nests can be found in tree cavities. Depending on the region, P. remota may have a different morphology and exhibit different behaviors. The bee's diet consists of nectar and pollen that are collected intensely from a few sources. Researchers have conducted a multitude of studies analyzing the changes that occur in the colony during reproductive diapause and what happens during the provisioning and oviposition process or POP.
Xylocopa pubescens is a species of large carpenter bee. Females form nests by excavation with their mandibles, often in dead or soft wood. X. pubescens is commonly found in areas extending from India to Northeast and West Africa. It must reside in these warm climates because it requires a minimum ambient temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) in order to forage.
Macrotera portalis is a species of communal, ground nesting, partially bivoltine bees found in arid grasslands and desert regions of North America. An oligolectic bee, M. portalis gathers pollen only from plants in the genus Sphaeralcea and has patterns of seasonal emergence to survive the harsh conditions of the desert, with emergence delayed until monsoon rains arrive.
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Colletes validus, colloquially known as the blueberry cellophane bee, is a solitary, specialist bee in the family Colletidae. It is found primarily in eastern North America where it nests in sandy soils near ericaceous plants.
Lasioglossum sordidum, also referred to as the small native bee, is one of the smallest native bees found in New Zealand.
Lasioglossum mataroa is a bee species that is found in New Zealand.
Leioproctus boltoni is a species of bee in the family of plasterer bees. This species was first described in 1904 and is endemic to New Zealand. They are a solitary bee, small and black in appearance. L. boltoni can be found throughout the main islands of New Zealand and forages on the flowers of both native and introduced species of plants. This species nests in the soil with their life cycle lasting approximately a year.
Hylaeus relegatus is a bee species in the family Colletidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and was first described by Frederick Smith. It is the largest and most common species of this genus in that country. H. relegatus can be found throughout the three main islands of New Zealand and visits the flowers of a wide variety of plant species, both native and introduced. Although widespread, this species is not abundant at any one particular location. It has been hypothesised that human made nest sites can be used to increase its numbers.
Leioproctus huakiwi is a species of bee in the family Colletidae family. This species was first described in 2007 and is endemic to New Zealand. L. huakiwi is a solitary bee, small and mainly black in appearance. It nests in the ground in bare, dry and fine soil. This species has been the subject of a successful translocation in Canterbury in 2005.
Leioproctus pango is a solitary bee species belonging to the genus Leioproctus, and family Colletidae. It is native to New Zealand.