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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416744
Research Project: Ecological Assessment and Mitigation Strategies to Reduce the Risks of Bees to Stressors in Southern Crop Ecosystems

Location: Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research

Title: Note on the nesting biology of Epimelissodes aegis LaBerge (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Author
item MALFA, KATHI - University Of Florida
item MACKOWIAK, CHERYL - University Of Florida
item IBOYI, JOSEPH - University Of Florida
item Parys, Katherine
item ESQUIVEL, ISAAC - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2025
Publication Date: 3/12/2025
Citation: Malfa, K., Mackowiak, C., Iboyi, J., Parys, K.A., Esquivel, I. 2025. Note on the nesting biology of Epimelissodes aegis LaBerge (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Florida Entomologist. 108:(1)20240056. https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0056.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0056

Interpretive Summary: Here we report the first description of a nesting aggregation of Epimelissodes aegis LaBerge, a long horned bee (Apidae: Eucerini), a relatively less known bee species, from a cotton field in the panhandle of northern Florida. Both male and female bees were seen to be active concurrently and males seem to outnumber females, in the nesting aggregations. In addition, we report a new host association for the kleptoparasitic bee, Triepeolus concavus (Cresson) with E. aegis.

Technical Abstract: A nesting aggregation of Epimelissodes aegis LaBerge is described from northern Florida. A novel host association with E. aegis is included for the kleptoparasitic bee, Triepeolus concavus (Cresson).