The nesting biology of the rare European osmiine bee species Osmia pilicornis was still unknown. The recent discovery of several nests in Germany and Austria by Prosi et al. (2016) revealed that this species has a unique nesting behaviour among the osmiine bees: the females gnaw their nests with the aid of specialized mandibles in dead branches, which lie on the ground and are partly hidden under vegetation. Recently, Lemoine (2016) also discovered a nest in northern France, which was built in a branch of Populus; in contrast to his statement in the article that a preexisting beetle burrow served as nesting site, the female bee actually tunnelled out the nest by herself (personal communication by G. Lemoine) supporting the findings of Prosi et al. (2016). For details on nesting site and nest architecture see the species account on the Palaearctic osmiine bee website.
Author: muelandr
-
2 Palaearctic osmiine bee species newly described
An article in Zootaxa has recently been published dealing with the biology and taxonomy of Hoplitis (Formicapis) and Hoplitis (Tkalcua) (Zootaxa, 4127, 105-120, 2016). Two new species are described: Hoplitis (Formicapis) coreensis spec. nov. from South Korea and Hoplitis (Tkalcua) emiratensis spec. nov. from the United Arab Emirates.
-
Newly described osmiine bee species from Macedonia
Hoplitis (Hoplitis) galichicae, a new European osmiine bee species has recently been described in Zootaxa (4111, 167-176, 2016). It is currently known only from the Galichica national park in southwestern Macedonia, where it was found to collect pollen on Sedum (Crassulaceae). In the same article, an identification key for all European representatives of the Hoplitis adunca species group is given.
-
Hoplitis mitis granadae
Based on a single female, Tkalcu (1984a) described a new subspecies of Hoplitis mitis from the Sierra Nevada (Spain), i.e. H. m. granadae. Due to several remarkable differences, Tkalcu hypothesized that the new subspecies might possibly even represent a new species. Recently, the hitherto unknown male of H. m. granadae was found in osmiine bee material collected at 3200m a.s.l. at the southern slope of Pico Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada by G. Losapio. Comparison of the males of H. m. granadae with those of the nominate subspecies generally revealed close morphological resemblance. However, as the morphological differences between the females of H. m. granadae and the nominate subspecies as stated by Tkalcu could be confirmed, the subspecific rank of the disjunct southern Spanish population of H. mitis appears to be well justified.
-
Osmia tergestensis and O. rhodoensis
Warncke (1988b) recognised two subspecies of Osmia (Tergosmia) tergestensis, i.e. O. t. tergestensis occurring in south eastern Europe and O. t. ononidis distributed in northern Africa, southwestern Europe and Turkey. The investigation of a large material of O. tergestensis from its entire distribution range, which extends from northwestern Africa over southern Europe to Turkey and the Near East, revealed no clear morphological gaps nor consistent patterns with respect to e.g. colour of pilosity or density of tergal punctation between different populations. Similarly, Osmia (Tergosmia) rhodoensis arquata and O. r. ferina are newly treated as synonymous with O. rhodoensis. The characters given by Warncke (1988b) to distinguish these two subspecies from the nominotypical subspecies, such as colour of pilosity, density of clypeal and tergal punctation or development of male sternal swellings, do not seem to be consistent within populations or strong enough to justify subspecific rank.
-
Biology of Hoplitis tuberculata
In a recently published paper, Müller (2015c) describes nest architecture and flower preferences of the boreoalpine Hoplitis (Alcidamea) tuberculata. The nest architecture of H. tuberculata is unique among Palaearctic osmiine bees. However, it corresponds to that of three North American species closely related to H. tuberculata. For details see the species account on the Palaearctic osmiine bee website.
-
Female of Hoplitis manuelae discovered
Hoplitis manuelae Müller, 2012 could not be assigned to a subgenus so far as only the male was known. Recently, the female of H. manuelae was discovered in a bee sample from southern Spain. The female characters clearly reveal that the species is a member of the subgenus Anthocopa. The lack of membraneous basal flaps on male sternum 6 suggests that H. manuelae might belong to a basal clade within Anthocopa.
-
New species records 14
The examination of osmiine bee material received from the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum Linz revealed the following new country records:
Greece: Chelostoma ventrale
Jordan: Chelostoma (Foveosmia) isabellinum
-
Biology of Ochreriades fasciatus
In a recently published paper, Rozen et al. (2015) describe the nesting biology, flower preferences and larval morphology of Ochreriades fasciatus, a rare bee species restricted in its distribution to the Levant. For details see the species account on the Palaearctic osmiine bee website.
-
Nesting biology of Hoplitis (Tkalcua) zandeni uncovered
The biology of the two Hoplitis species of the subgenus Tkalcua was entirely unknown so far. On their excursion to Fuerteventura in spring 2015, V. Mauss and A. Müller detected nests of H. (Tkalcua) zandeni in empty snail shells. For details see the species account on the Palaearctic osmiine bee website.