|
Back to List of Background & Research Materials Peck,
O. CHALCIDOID
(HYMENOPTERA) PARASITES OF THE ALFALFA LEAF-CUTTER BEE, Megachile rotundata, IN CANADA. The Canadian Entomologist 101: 418 - 422. 1969. Abstract. Megachile rotundata (F.) is a domesticated bee used to pollinate alfalfa in southern Alberta. There it may have four species of parasites, all chalcidoids. These parasites are removable by water traps before the hives are set in the field. Three of these parasites, Monodontomeros obscurus Westw., Dibrachys maculipennis Sz., and Pteromalus venustus Wlkr., are European in origin. The first seems not to be established in Canada; the latter two have been reared from Canadian species of Megachile and thereby may prove a source of parasitism. The fourth species, Melittobia chalybii Ashm., is a widespread, Nearctic, multivoltine species and is known as a laboratory pest of hymenopterous nests; it is likely to be the major parasite in rotundata nests. A key is given for the parasitic species. Melittobia Species Mentioned: Melittobia chalybii (probably = M. acasta). Comments. A key to separate Melittobia chalybii (=M. acasta?) from three other Megachile rotundata parasites is presented. There is a brief comment on the parasitoid biology and behavior. It is highly possible that the species observed and reared to write this paper is Melittobia acasta and not M. chalybii. This is based in the fact that the known Canadian Melittobia species [Dahms, E.C. 1982. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 21(2): 271 - 336)] and material reared by other authors from Canada [Assem, J. 1975. Journal of Entomology (A) 50(3): 137 - 146; Hobbs, G.A. & M.D. Krunic 1971. The Canadian Entomologist 103(5): 674 - 685] as parasites from Megachile species were erroneously identified as M. chalybii but correspond to the species M. acasta. |