Bees, the largest (>16,000 species) and most important radiation of pollinating insects, originated in early to mid-Cretaceous, roughly in synchrony with the angiosperms (flowering plants). Understanding the diversification of the bees and the coevolutionary history of bees and angiosperms requires a well supported phylogeny of bees (as well as angiosperms). We reconstructed a robust phylogeny ...

Temperature plays an important role in effective management of the alfalfa leafcutting bee [Megachile rotundata (F.); Megachilidae], the major commercial pollinator of seed alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.); Fabaceae] in North America. To improve our understanding of threshold and optimum rearing temperatures of M. rotundata, we examined the effect of temperature on postwintering development by us...

A significant concern in the commercial application of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), for pollination is synchronizing bee emergence and activity with peak crop bloom. Previous studies have demonstrated that the commercial spring incubation of this species can be successfully interrupted by low temperature incubation, thereby slowing developme...

A new species of leafcutter bee, Megachile (Megachiloides) chomskyi, is described from Texas, United States. Megachile chomskyi is one of the four known species of the oenotherae species group of Megachiloides, all members sharing the long tongue, and is most similar to Megachile (Megachiloides) amica Cresson. Like other members of the oenotherae species group, this species probably shows oligo...

ABSTRACT In alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., seed production where high bee densities are released, alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), females may enter several nesting holes before locating their nests. Such levels of "wrong hole" visits lead to an increase in the time spent by females locating their own nests, thereby decreasing alfalfa pollination effi...

Epeolus, Coelioxys, Cephalic Secretions, Pyrazines, Spiroacetals Volatile cephalic secretions from females of four cleptoparasitic bee species, Epeolus cruciger (Pz.), E. variegatus, (L.) (Anthophoridae) and Coelioxys (Coelioxys) quadridentata (L.), C. (Schizocoelioxys) mandibularis Nyl. (Megachilidae) were analysed by combined gas chromatog­ raphy/mass spectroscopy. There are considerable simi...

New species of the rarely encountered megachilid genera Afroheriades Peters from South Africa, Afroheriades hyalinussp. n., and Noteriades Cockerell from Myanmar and Thailand, Noteriades jenniferaesp. n. and Noteriades spinosussp. n., are described and illustrated. The species are described to make their names available for forthcoming publications on phylogenetic studies of the family Megachil...

Neofidelia apacheta Dumesh and Packer, sp. nov., N. camanchaca Dumesh and Packer, sp. nov., and N. submersa Dumesh and Packer, sp. nov. are described from northern Chile. Neofidelia apacheta is known from large numbers of specimens and localities at moderately high elevation (1600-3200m). Neofidelia camanchaca is only known from the ho-lotype male. Neofidelia submersa is known from the holotype...