The Chilean bees Xeromelissa nortina and X. sielfeldi : their nesting biologies and immature stages, including biological notes on X. rozeni (Colletidae, Xeromelissinae)

Title Variants

Alternative: Xeromelissa

Related Titles

Series: American Museum novitates, no. 3838

By

Rozen, Jerome G. Jr. (Jerome George), 1928- , author

Wyman, Eli S. , author

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

New York, NY American Museum of Natural History [2015]

Notes

Caption title.

"July 17, 2015."

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Herein are described the nests and their contents of Xeromelissa nortina (Toro and Moldenke) and of X. sielfeldi (Toro and Moldenke), found in the dry, high Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Nests of the former, discovered in 2014, contained linear cell series in the central pith channels of dead, broken twigs of Baccharis, revealing clear, cellophanelike cell linings that presumably control cell humidity. From the cells, postdefecating larvae were obtained, permitting their description and comparison with our meager understanding of other larval xeromelissines. Nests of X. sielfeldi, also found in broken dead twigs, were discovered and first studied in 1971 before the species was described and named, thereby delaying publication until now. Although similar in most respects to nests of X. nortina, they occupied abandoned beetle burrows. Toro and Moldenke provided information on eggs, predefecating larvae, and pupae, described herein. At the time of that discovery, adults of X. rozeni (Toro and Moldenke), a bee with an exceedingly long proboscis, were also active, permitting observation on their feeding habits, which are included herein.

Subjects

Atacama Desert , Bees , Behavior , Chile , Colletidae , Insects , Larvae , Nests , Pupae , Xeromelissa nortina , Xeromelissa rozeni , Xeromelissa sielfeldi

Call Number

QL1 .A436 no.3838 2015

Language

English

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1206/3838.1
OCLC: 914168209