Megachile affabilis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Clade: | Euarthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Megachilidae |
Genus: | Megachile |
Species: | M. affabilis |
Binomial name | |
Megachile affabilis Mitchell, 1930 | |
Megachile affabilis is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. [1] It was described by Mitchell in 1930. [1]
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the western honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea and are presently considered a clade, called Anthophila. There are over 16,000 known species of bees in seven recognized biological families. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, in every habitat on the planet that contains insect-pollinated flowering plants.
Megachilidae is a cosmopolitan family of mostly solitary bees whose pollen-carrying structure is restricted to the ventral surface of the abdomen. Megachilid genera are most commonly known as mason bees and leafcutter bees, reflecting the materials from which they build their nest cells ; a few collect plant or animal hairs and fibers, and are called carder bees, while others use plant resins in nest construction and are correspondingly called resin bees. All species feed on nectar and pollen, but a few are kleptoparasites, feeding on pollen collected by other megachilid bees. Parasitic species do not possess scopae. The motion of Megachilidae in the reproductive structures of flowers is energetic and swimming-like; this agitation releases large amounts of pollen.
The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees or leafcutting bees. While other genera within the family Megachilidae may chew leaves or petals into fragments to build their nests, certain species within Megachile neatly cut pieces of leaves or petals, hence their common name. This is one of the largest genera of bees, with almost 1500 species in over 50 subgenera. North America has many native Megachile species. The introduced alfalfa leafcutter bee is managed for crop pollination.
Chalicodoma is a subgenus of the bee genus Megachile in the family Megachilidae.
Chelostomoides is a subgenus of bees in genus Megachile. These bees do not cut leaves, but rather, use resin, mud, or other materials
Megachile cypricola is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Mavromoustakis in 1938. This species has not been observed since 1950, and may be extinct.
Megachile gentilis is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Cresson in 1872.
Megachile Luteociliata is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was discovered by Pasteels in 1965 in Kenya, describing it as a leaf-cutter bee. The species is only found in Kenya.
Megachile rubi is a species of leaf cutting bee in the family Megachilidae, found in the eastern United States. First described by Mitchell in 1924, it is placed in the subgenus Xeromegachile, members of which are most often found in sandy areas and have distinct preferences in the petals and leaves they use in their nests.
Megachile texana, the Texas leafcutter bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was first described by the American entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson in 1878. It is native to the United States and southern Canada.
Megachile venusta is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Smith in 1853.
Megachile canescens is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Brullé in 1832.
Megachile centuncularis, commonly known as the patchwork leafcutter bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was first described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
Megachile cheesmanae is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Michener in 1965.
Megachile lagopoda is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761.
Megachile lanata is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.
Megachile mystacea is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.
Megachile mystaceana, the fire-tailed resin bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Michener in 1962.
Megachile parietina is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Geoffroy in 1785. It is native to most of central Europe, as well as parts of eastern Europe.
Megachile sicula is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. It was described by Rossi in 1792.
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