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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412517
Research Project: Biological Control and Habitat Restoration for Invasive Weed Management

Location: Pest Management Research

Title: Gynandromorph records of Melissodes trinodis and Melissodes communis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from North Dakota, USA

Author
item Campbell, Joshua
item PEI, C - North Dakota State University
item WRIGHT, KAREN - Washington Department Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2024
Publication Date: 6/6/2024
Citation: Campbell, J.W., Pei, C.K., Wright, K.W. 2024. Gynandromorph records of Melissodes trinodis and Melissodes communis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from North Dakota, USA. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 97:505-511. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.123968.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.123968

Interpretive Summary: Gynandromorphs are individuals that have both male and female characteristics. Many gynandromorph individuals of different bee genera have been found. We are documenting two species of gynandromorph bees from the genus Melissodes collected from North Dakota (USA). These specimens represent the first gynandromorphs found for Melissodes trinoidis and only the second specimen collected for Melissodes communis.

Technical Abstract: Bees that express both male and female characteristics are known as gynandromorphs. Here we report and describe two specimens that represent the first documented gynandromorphs of Melissodes trinodis Robertson and one specimen of Melissodes communis Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae) that represents only the second known case. All three specimens were collected in North Dakota, USA and exhibit a mosaic pattern of gynandromorphy.