Trap nesting bees of genus Megachile and nesting biology of three species of subgenus Callomegachile (Hymenoptera; Megachilidae) from North India

What is it about?

The aim of this study was to access the fitness of types of trap nests to Megachile bees, to know the trap nesting Megachile bees and to study their biology. In this article, we provide information on the Megachile bees that use trap nests of different nesting material, and biological attributes of three resin bees from subgenus Callomegachile from Terai Arc Landscape (a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests) having humid sub tropical climate and is situated in the foot hills of Shivalik range of Himalayas in north India. This study provides information for nesting of eight species of Megachile bees viz., Megachile cephalotes, M. chlorigaster, M. disjuncta, M. inepta, M. lanata, M. relata, M. studiosa and M. umbripennis. Use of trap nests in the form of holes drilled in wood and hollow stems (bamboo and reeds) by six species reported in this study provides new information on trap nesting Megachile bees. Nesting biology studies for M. cephalotes, M. disjuncta and M. umbripennis provide new information on nesting details including their nest structure, brood development and adult emergence pattern for two different generations, which would be valuable in understanding the diverse group of Megachile bees. The study would help in devising suitable techniques for their conservation and utilizing them for pollination services.

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