- Source: Megachile zombae
Megachile zombae is a species of bee in the Megachilidae family. Natively endemic to Malawi and identified in 1977, these are solitary bees. The name derives from Greek mega (μεγας) 'large' + cheil- (χειλ) 'lip' (referring to the mouthparts of the bee) and a district Zomba, in Malawi.
Leafcutter bees
Solitary bees, such as leafcutters, do not form colonies. Unlike social insects (ants, yellow jackets, honeybees), leafcutters work alone building isolated nests. Similar to honeybees, female bees perform nearly all essential tasks of brood rearing. These insects perform essential tasks, pollinating wild plants. The alfalfa leaf cutter bee (Megachile rotundata), native to Europe, has been semi-domesticated for crop pollination. In North America, the species was deliberately imported to assist in the pollination of food crops, but has now become feral and widespread.
Taxonomy and naming
The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees. While other genera within the family Megachilidae may chew leaves or petals into fragments to build their nests. Certain species within Megachile neatly cut pieces of leaves or petals, hence their common name. The genus Megachile is one of the largest genera of bees, with over 1500 species.
Life cycle and behavior
Distribution and habitat
Morphology and identification
Highly detailed physical descriptions of M. campanulae campanulae and M. campanulae wilmingtoni were published in Theodore B. Mitchell's seminal work Bees of the Eastern United States. However, M. zombae was not described, having been discovered several years later.
Pollination
They have been documented to pollinate the following flowers:
Conservation
While the specific conservation status of M. zombae has not been assessed, studies indicate that many North American species of the Megachile genus, as well as other solitary bees, are at risk due to these pressures. The Xerces Society reports that 50% of leafcutter bee species in North America are considered "at risk" by NatureServe, highlighting the need for targeted conservation efforts.
See also
List of Megachile species
References
External links
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
