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<p>We are reporting for the first time the nesting behaviour, nesting substrate preference, nest architecture, biology and pollen preference of a wood boring bee, <i>Lithurgus atratus</i> in <i>Ipomea carnea</i>. The bee preferred to construct her nest in the reeds of <i>Ipomoea carnea</i> with peak nesting activity during August (24.67 ± 4.04 nests), September (21.00 ± 7.10 nests), June (20.10 ± 6.24 nests), and July (19.67 ± 4.73 nests). A single bee constructed three cells per nesting reed that measured 2.06 ± 0.40&#xa0;cm in length and 0.53 ± 0.05&#xa0;cm in width. The duration of egg, larval and pupal stages of <i>L. atratus</i> were 2.20 ± 0.91, 13.90 ± 0.99 and 10.10 ± 1.37 days. The peak time of pollen foraging activity of <i>L. atratus</i> in <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> was recorded from 8 to 9 am (1.80 ± 0.45 bees/flower) to 1–2 pm (2.40 ± 0.54 bees/flower) with maximum activity of the adult bee in the nesting reeds noticed at 9–10 am (2.40 ± 0.54 nests), 10–11 am (2.80 ± 1.30 nests). The pollen grains of five host plants viz., okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>), hibiscus (<i>Hibiscus rosasinensis</i>), elephant creeper vine (<i>Argyreia nervosa</i>), Indian blanket flower (<i>Gaillardia pulchella</i>) and hollyhock (<i>Alcea rosea</i>) were identified in the scopal load of foraging bees and in the brood provisions. The scopal and brood pollen analysis indicated a marked foraging preference of <i>L. atratus</i> towards the flowers of Malvaceae (63.4%). Our observations are the beginning of using this bee in many crop plants for managed pollination.</p>

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First report of nesting behaviour, pollen preference and seasonality of wood boring bee, Lithurgus atratus Smith in the reeds of Ipomoea carnea Jacq

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月29日

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  • Amala Udayakumar,
  • H. S. Venu,
  • T. M. Shivalingaswamy,
  • K. Subaharan,
  • S. N. Sushil

摘要

We are reporting for the first time the nesting behaviour, nesting substrate preference, nest architecture, biology and pollen preference of a wood boring bee, Lithurgus atratus in Ipomea carnea. The bee preferred to construct her nest in the reeds of Ipomoea carnea with peak nesting activity during August (24.67 ± 4.04 nests), September (21.00 ± 7.10 nests), June (20.10 ± 6.24 nests), and July (19.67 ± 4.73 nests). A single bee constructed three cells per nesting reed that measured 2.06 ± 0.40 cm in length and 0.53 ± 0.05 cm in width. The duration of egg, larval and pupal stages of L. atratus were 2.20 ± 0.91, 13.90 ± 0.99 and 10.10 ± 1.37 days. The peak time of pollen foraging activity of L. atratus in Abelmoschus esculentus was recorded from 8 to 9 am (1.80 ± 0.45 bees/flower) to 1–2 pm (2.40 ± 0.54 bees/flower) with maximum activity of the adult bee in the nesting reeds noticed at 9–10 am (2.40 ± 0.54 nests), 10–11 am (2.80 ± 1.30 nests). The pollen grains of five host plants viz., okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasinensis), elephant creeper vine (Argyreia nervosa), Indian blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella) and hollyhock (Alcea rosea) were identified in the scopal load of foraging bees and in the brood provisions. The scopal and brood pollen analysis indicated a marked foraging preference of L. atratus towards the flowers of Malvaceae (63.4%). Our observations are the beginning of using this bee in many crop plants for managed pollination.