BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN GREEN CARPENTER BEES, GENUS LESTIS (HYMENOPTERA ANTHOPHORIDAE XYLOCOPINI)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract: Opportunistic obscrvations of the nests, provisions, life histories, forage plants, colony structure and nest associatcs of Lestis bombyIans and L. aeratus are recorded and discussed. L. aeratus is recorded from South Australia for the first time.

Complex burrow systems with a single entrance occurred commonly and werc inhabited by varying numbers of adults of both sexes (up to 10 females and 25 males). While some of these groups may have consisted of newly emerged siblings (with an older female, perhaps the mother, sometimes present) at least one group appeared to be an overwintering aggregation. In another nest. two females constructed brood cells independently. Nests appeared to be perennial when sufficient stem was available for extension of the burrow systems.

In south-eastern Queensland. cells of L. bombyIans were constructed at the rate of one every two days and development from egg to adult required about 65 days. Females arc polylectic and form firm. somewhat tetrahedral provision masses. Pollen collecting observed in the absence of brood cells probably served to sustain groups of overwintering adults.

The mite Sennertia leei occurred as a commensal in some nests. consuming unused provision. and its hypopi were carried by the adult bees.