Species Megachile (Eutricharaea) rotundata (Fabricius, 1787)
Type data:
Neotype ZMK ♀, W Hungary, see Roberts (1978: 392).Subsequent designation references:
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1977. Opinion 1093. Designation under the plenary powers of a neotype for Apis rotundata Fabricius, 1787 (Insecta, Hymenoptera). Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 34: 143-146 [Date published 31/12/1977] [143].Type locality references:
Roberts, R.B. 1978. Megachile rotundata (Fabricius), not Megachile pacifica (Panzer), is the name of the alfalfa leafcutting bee (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America 24: 392 [Date published 31/12/1978] [392].
Distribution
States
South Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Introduced from New Zealand, and released in SA in March 1987, established probably 1993, a native of the Palaearctic Region and has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica.
IBRA
SA: Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)
Ecological Descriptors
Adult: mellivore, solitary, volant.
Extra Ecological Information
Nest of cut leaves in pre-existing cavities (natural or artificial galleries in wood or other materials, e.g. trap nests), flower visiting record: lucerne.
General References
Altmann, J. 1987. Pollination of lucerne (Medicago sativa). Australasian Beekeeper 88: 240-247 [Date published 31/12/1987] (bibliography)
Anon. 1987. Leafcutter bees released in S.A. Australasian Beekeeper 88: 175 [Date published 31/03/1987] (released in Australia)
Briggs, L. 1983. Importation of leafcutter bees from New Zealand. Australasian Beekeeper 85: 28-29 [Date published 31/12/1983] (conditions for entry to Australia)
Doull, K.M. 1976. Termination of the leafcutter bee project. Australasian Beekeeper 77: 271-272 [Date published 31/12/1976] (second importation to Australia, not released)
Fearn, J.T. 1974. A quarantine success story. The problems of importing leafcutter bees. Animal Quarantine 3(3): 10-15 [Date published 31/12/1974] (first importation to Australia, not released)
Fearn, J.T. 1974. Chalk brood in imported leafcutter bees. American Bee Journal 114: 209 [Date published 31/12/1974] (first importation to Australia, not released)
Hurd, P.D. 1979. Superfamily Apoidea. pp. 1741-2209 in Krombein, K.V., Hurd, P.D., Smith, D.R. & Burks, B.O. (eds). Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico. Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institute Press Vol. 2 1199-2209 pp. (misidentified as Megachile pacifica by many authors (Panzer, 1798))
Lehane, B. 1998. Bees that can boost lucerne seed production. Australasian Beekeeper 99: 410-412 [410]
Whitfield, G.H., Richards, K.W. & Kveder, T.M. 1987. Number of instars of larvae of the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). The Canadian Entomologist 119: 859-865 [Date published 31/12/1987] (larval instars)
Winn, B. 1988. Importation and release of leafcutter bees in South Australia. pp. 209-210 in Rhodes, J.W. (ed.). Bee Keeping in the Year 2000. Second Australian and International Beekeeping Congress. Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. July 21–26, 1988. Brisbane : Dept Primary Industries 288 pp. (release in SA)
Woodward, D. 1993. Lucerne pollination service. Australian Journal of Entomology 94: 336-338, 340-341 [Date published 31/12/1993] (spread in SA)
Woodward, D.R. 1994. Predators and parasitoids of Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), in South Australia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 33(1): 13-15 [Date published February] [13] (biology)
Woodward, D.R. 1996. Monitoring for impact of the introduced leafcutting bee Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), near release sites in South Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 35(2): 187-191 [Date published May] [187] (biology)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Aug-2013 | 14-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 22-Oct-2015 | 20-Sep-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 23-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 29-Mar-2010 | MODIFIED |