J. HYM. RES. Vol. 16(1), 2007, pp. 30-50 Notes on Nesting and Flower Visiting of some Anthidiine Bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Megachilinae: Anthidiini) in Southern Africa Sarah K. Gess* and Friedrich W. Gess Department of Entomology, Makana Biodiversity Centre, Albany Museum, Grahamstown, 6139 South Africa; email:
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[email protected] * Address for correspondence: Sarah Gess, Albany Museum, Grahamstown, 6139 South Africa; email:
[email protected]; tel 0466222312 Abstract.— For Anthidiini occurring in southern Africa, descriptive notes on nests of seven species belonging to three genera, have been published. All are constructed from plant fibres and, depending upon the species, are situated aerially on plants or in pre-existing cavities. To these are added first descriptions of nests of three further species representing three genera. Serapista ruftpes (Friese), like the only other species of Serapista, S. denticulata (Smith), for which nesting is known, was found to construct nests from plant fibres, however, although similarly found aerially on plant stems, a nest with its builder was discovered in a burrow in the ground. Afranthidium (Nigranthidium) concolor (Friese) was found nesting in a burrow in the ground, like other species of Afranthidium, using plant fibres. Plesianthidium, represented by P. (Spinanthidiellum) volkmanni (Friese), was found constructing groups of separate resinous, spouted, pot-like cells, similar to those constructed by some extraterritorial species of Anthidiellum. Additional nest records are given for Afranthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum and Afranthidium (Afranthidium) ablusum. A first record (that of Alan Weaving) of a host, Megachile (Gronocerus) feline Gerstaecker, of Euaspis abdominalis (Fabricius) is reported. Anthidiini in southern Africa are relatively polyphagous. In the present analysis inter-generic and intra-generic similarities, differences, and preferences in flower families visited are indicated. Anthidiini are worldwide in distribu-junodi (Friese) (as Anthidium junodi Friese -tion. Michener (2000) recognizes 37 genera Skaife 1950, Taylor 1962, Michener 1968 of which 18 are represented in Africa south and as Immanthidium junodi (Friese) -Gess of the Sahara -15 in southern Africa. 1981); Afranthidium (Immanthidium) repeti-Anthidiine bees are generally divisible into turn (Schulz) (as Anthidium repetitum Schulz two groups on the basis of the materials -Michener 1968); Afranthidium (Branthi-used for nest construction. One group uses dium) micrurum (Cockerell) (as Anthidium plant hairs or plant fibres and the other micrurum Cockerell -Michener 1968); resin, often together with pebbles (Mich-Afranthidium (Branthidium) braunsi (Friese) ener 1968, Pasteels 1977, Michener 2000). (as Branthidium braunsi -Gess 1981); However, V achy anthidium bicolor (Lepele-Afranthidium (Afranthidium) ablusum (Cock-tier) is exceptional as it uses a mixture of erell) (as Afranthidium (Oranthidium) prob-plant down and resin (Michener 1968, ably odonturum (Cockerell) (Gess and Gess 2000). 1999); Pseudoanthidium (Micranthidium) Surprisingly little has been published on truncatum (Smith) (as Micranthidium trun-the nesting of anthidiine bees in southern catum Smith -Friese 1902, Michener 1968); Africa. Nesting records are available for Serapista denticulata (Smith) (Stadelmannn seven species from three genera, all using 1898, quoted by Friese 1905, 1909, 1916, plant fibres: Afranthidium (Immanthidium) Michener 1968).
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