Nesting ecology and floral resource of X ylocopa augusti L epeletier de S aint F argeau ( H ymenoptera, A pidae) in A rgentina

Abstract




A total of 33 nests of

X
ylocopa augusti

was studied during two consecutive seasons.




Nesting behaviour and floral resources used by the large carpenter bee

X
. augusti

L
epeletier de
S
aint
F
argeau were studied during the brood production season in an urban area in
A
rgentina.



Biological information about nesting aspects inside and outside the nest was considered, paying particular attention to year‐long activity, foraging flights throughout the day for nectar and pollen collection, nectar dehydration, oviposition, and pollen preference.



In the study area,

X
. augusti

shows an univoltine life cycle, with a peak of nesting between
O
ctober and
D
ecember, which coincides with the greatest blooming period of the surrounding flora.




From 36 analyzed larval provision samples, 18 pollen types were identified, most of them belonging to ornamental trees or shrubs. Pollen from

E
ucalyptus‐
M
yrceugenia glaucescens

(
C
ambess.)
D
.
L
egrand and
K
ausel (
M
yrtaceae),

S
olanum

sp.‐

C
yphomandra betacea

(
C
av.)
S
endtn. (
S
olanaceae) and

E
rythrina crista‐galli

L
. (
F
abaceae) was dominant.




The ability to obtain pollen from poricidal anthers such as those of

S
olanum

indicate the potential of
X. augusti
to be an excellent managed pollinator and a good candidate for pollinating
S
olanaceae, such as

S
olanum lycopersicum

‘tomato’ and

S
olanum melongena

‘eggplant’, which are economically important crops in this region.