| Trachusa byssina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Oberelsbach, Germany, June 2020 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Megachilidae |
| Genus: | Trachusa |
| Species: | T. byssina |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachusa byssina (Panzer, 1798) | |
Trachusa byssina (also called byssal resin-leafcutter) is a species of bees within the genus Trachusa. [1] [2] [3]
This species measures from 11 to 12 mm. Males are without light spots on the body with the exception of the yellow-colored face. The abdomen end is not reinforced as in many other Anthidium species. In the female, the thorax is hairy fox-red. The abdomen is sparsely covered in light brown hair with inconspicuous hair ties on the tergite ends. The belly brush is white. Both genders can be identified with experience in the field. [4]
This species is distributed from Portugal through Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Central Asia and Siberia to the Amur Oblast and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. North to 60° N in Norway (Oppland), 63 ° N in Sweden), 64° N in Finland (Kokkola / Central Ostrobothnia), in Russia to Karelia, Kirov and Perm. South to Abruzzo, northern Greece (Olymp / Timfi) and northern Turkey. Currently it is reported from almost all regions in Central Europe, only historically in Schleswig-Holstein, the Lake Geneva area and southern Ticino. [5] In Germany the species is widespread, from the plains to higher mountain areas and moderately frequent. [4]
In central Europe this species can be found mainly in the low mountain ranges and there on the south-facing forest edges, which border directly on poor meadows or have a broad, herbaceous border. It occurs also on wide, sunny forest paths or clearings with larger Lotus stands. Also on inland dunes, in sand heaths, in old fallow vineyards, on extensively grazed or fallow sheep pastures (juniper heaths) as well as in abandoned sand pits and quarries. Often syntopic with Anthidium strigatum. Nests are preferably in slightly sloping, more or less south-exposed places that are not or only sparsely overgrown and where the soil is at least somewhat solidified (e.g. by step, moss, grass roots). It uses different types of soil and also nests in humus soil, but most often sandy soil or loess loam are colonized. In the vicinity of the nesting site, conifers, especially pines ( Pinus sylvestris ) and deciduous trees, must grow as suppliers of building material. The females sometimes collect 100–200 m from the nesting site. [4]
Trachusa byssina is univoltin. The flight period ranges from early June to mid-August. Hibernation happens as a resting larva in the cocoon.
Trachusa byssina is an oligolectic species specializing in Fabaceae. The main pollen source is Lotus corniculatus . Pollen is also collected from other Fabaceae, especially where it only blooms sporadically or not at all. The following are documented: Lotus uliginosus, Onobrychis viciifolia, Ononis repens, Ononis spinosa, Vicia cracca, Lathyrus heterophyllus, Lathyrus sylvestris, Lathyrus tuberosus, Lathyrus pratensis, Medicago sativa and Securigera varia . The females usually stick to certain flowering plants, especially when they collect on Lotus, but often two, occasionally three plant species are used during a collecting flight. All the pollen sources mentioned except Ononis and Securigera also offer the females nectar, which is abundantly added to the larval provisions. The males patrol flowering Lotus plants. [4]
Trachusa byssina nests in self-dug cavities in the earth, singly or in small colonies (clusters of 10-50 nests). The nest is a branching earth tube 10–15 cm long. 2-4 brood cells are placed one behind the other at the end of the side aisles. For the construction of the cells, strips are cut out of the leaves of various trees and herbs, which serve as cell walls. Leaves from birch (Betula), hawthorn (Crataegus), willowherb (Epilobium), beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), English oak (Quercus robur), roses (Rosa) or blackberries ( Rubus fruticosus ) are used. [4] Small bits of resin are then collected and deposited at the end of the brood cell until there is a sufficient amount to coat the inside of the leaves with a layer of resin. [5] The inside is mostly covered by pine resin ( Pinus sylvestris ), possibly also by spruce ( Picea abies ). [4]
Trachusa byssina is probably used as host species by Coelioxys quadridentata and Aglaoapis tridentata , which are suspected to be cuckoo bees. [5]
From Latin "byssina" = "made of the finest linen, calico, from batiste" (Greek foreign word).
Subgenus Trachusa PANZER, 1804. [5]
Synonym: Anthidium byssinum PANZER, 1805; Trachusa serratulae TANK, 1804. [5]
Megachilidae is a cosmopolitan family of mostly solitary bees. Characteristic traits of this family are the restriction of their pollen-carrying structure to the ventral surface of the abdomen, and their typically elongated labrum. 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.
Mason bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. When available, some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made by wood-boring insects.
With over 850 species, the genus Nomada is one of the largest genera in the family Apidae, and the largest genus of kleptoparasitic "cuckoo bees." Kleptoparasitic bees are so named because they enter the nests of a host and lay eggs there, stealing resources that the host has already collected. The name "Nomada" is derived from the Greek word nomas, meaning "roaming" or "wandering."
The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees or leafcutting bees; it also includes the called resin bees and mortar 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 more than 1500 species in over 50 subgenera. The alfalfa leafcutter bee is managed on a commercial scale for crop pollination, and has been introduced by humans to various regions around the world.
Anthidium is a genus of bees often called carder or potter bees, who use conifer resin, plant hairs, mud, or a mix of them to build nests. They are in the family Megachilidae which is cosmopolitan in distribution and made up of species that are mostly solitary bees with pollen-carrying scopa that are only located on the ventral surface of the abdomen. Other bee families have the pollen-carrying structures on the hind legs. Typically species of Anthidium feed their brood on pollen and nectar from plants. Anthidium florentinum is distinguished from most of its relatives by yellow or brick-red thoracic bands. They fly all summer and make the nests in holes in the ground, walls or trees, with hairs plucked from plants.
Megachile sculpturalis, known as the giant resin bee and sculptured resin bee, is a species of leafcutting bees belonging to the family Megachilidae.
Bombus sylvestris, known as the forest cuckoo bumblebee or four-coloured cuckoo bee, is a species of cuckoo bumblebee, found in most of Europe and Russia. Its main hosts are Bombus pratorum, Bombus jonellus, and Bombus monticola. As a cuckoo bumblebee, Bombus sylvestris lays its eggs in another bumblebee's nest. This type of bee leaves their young to the workers of another nest for rearing, allowing cuckoo bumblebees to invest minimal energy and resources in their young while still keeping the survival of their young intact.
Osmia cornuta, the European orchard bee, is a species of bee in the genus Osmia.
Trachusa perdita, the California leafcutting bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae.
Anthidium manicatum, commonly called the European wool carder bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter bees or mason bees.
Anthidium oblongatum, the oblong woolcarder bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter, carder, or mason bees.
Anthidium maculosum is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, the leaf-cutter, carder, or mason bees. It is a solitary bee where the males are territorial and the females take part in polyandry. The males of A. maculosum differ from most other males of bee species because the males are significantly larger than females. In addition, subordinate males that act as satellites are smaller than territory-owning males. This species can be found predominately in Mexico and the United States.
Megachile campanulae, known as the bellflower resin bee, is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae. Described in 1903, these solitary bees are native to eastern North America. Studies in 2013 placed them among the first insect species to use synthetic materials for making nests. They are considered mason bees, which is a common descriptor of bees in several families, including Megachilidae. Within the genus Megachile, frequently also referred to as leafcutter bees, M. campanulae is a member of the subgenus Chelostomoides, which do not construct nests from cut leaves, but rather from plant resins and other materials. Females lay eggs in nests constructed with individual cell compartments for each egg. Once hatched, the eggs progress through larval stages and subsequently will overwinter as pupae. The bees are susceptible to parasitism from several other bee species, which act as brood parasites. They are medium-sized bees and the female adults are typically larger than the males. They are important pollinators of numerous native plant species throughout their range.
Coelioxys, common name leaf-cutting cuckoo bees or sharp-tailed bees , is a genus of solitary kleptoparasitic or brood parasitic bees, belonging to the family Megachilidae.
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.
Cerceris rybyensis, the ornate tailed digger wasp, is a Palearctic species of solitary wasp from the family Crabronidae which specialised in hunting small to medium-sized mining bees. It is the type species of the genus Cerceris and was named as Sphex rybyensis by Carl Linnaeus in 1771.
Osmia aurulenta is a Palearctic species of mason bee.
Centris analis is a solitary, oil-collecting bee with a geographical range extending from Brazil to Mexico. C. analis is a small, fast-flying bee with an average head width of 3.21mm and 3.54mm for males and females, respectively. While most species of the genus Centris create burrows for nesting, C. analis and other species of the subgenus Heterocentris build nests in pre-existing cavities rather than in the ground. C. analis is a pollinator of many plant species, especially of those in the family Malpighiaceae, which has encouraged its application in acerola orchards.
Tetraloniella dentata is a species of bees within the genus Tetraloniella.
Osmia nigriventris, also known as the large black-bellied mason bee, is a species of solitary bee within the family Megachilidae.