1982 Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico 



attaching them to branches and so forth, or place them under stones, cow chips and so on. As a 

 consequence of these habits, many species readily accept artificial nesting devices, and this has 

 not only permitted detailed studies of their biology, but has also made possible the manipulation 

 and management of several species for use in the pollination of agricultural crops. However, 

 some species in certain genera (e.g., Megachile) and even some groups of species (e.g., 

 Heteranthidium and Trachusa) do construct their own burrows. All of the pollen-collecting 

 Megachilidae use foreign materials in the construction of the cell walls. These materials include 

 leaves, plant down, leaf pulp, petals, resin, pebbles, mud, clay, and the like. The larvae spin tough 

 cocoons before pupation. 



Apart from the cleptoparasitic species, many of the megachilids are highly restricted in their 

 intrafloral relationships and thus oligolecty is a relatively common phenomenon in this family. 



Revision: Mitchell, 1962. N. C. Agr. Expt. Sta. Tech. Bui. 152: 5-232, 1 frontis., figs. 1-66, 

 tables 1-7 (eastern U. S. spp.). 



Taxonomy: Rozen, 1973. Amer. Mus. Novitates 2527: 1-14, 22 figs, (immature stages). 



Biology: Krombein, 1967. Trap-nesting wasps and bees, pp. 264-344, figs, (life histories, nests, 

 associates). — Eickwort, 1975. Evolution 29: 142-150, 1 fig., 2 tables (gregarious nesting, 

 and evolution of parasitism and sociality among megachilid bees). 



Morphology: Pasteels and Pasteels, 1972. Acad. Roy. Belgique, Mem. Classe Sci. 18: 1-28, 3 

 pis. (cuticular hairs). —Pasteels and Pasteels, 1973. Tissue and Cell 5: 63-82 

 (morphogenetic fields of hairs on legs). —Pasteels and Pasteels 1974. Tissue and Cell 6: 

 65-83 (Stereoscan studies of abdominal scopae). 



Subfamily LITHURGINAE 



Taxonomy: Rozen, 1973. Amer. Mus. Novitates 2527: 1-14, 22 figs, (immature stages). 



Genus LITHURGE Latreille 



Genus LITHURGE Subgenus LITHURGE Latreille 



Lithurge Latreille, 1825. Fam. Nat. Regne Anim., p. 463. 



Type-species: Andrena comuta Fabricius. Monotypic. 

 Lithurgus Berthold, 1827. In Latreille, Nat. Fam. Thierr., p. 467. Emend. 



Found in the Old World. 



Genus LITHURGE Subgenus LITHURGOPSIS Fox 



Lithurgopsis Fox, 1902. Ent. News 13: 138. 



Type-species: Lithurgus apicalis Cresson. Orig. desig. 



Revision: Mitchell, 1938. Psyche 45: 146-155. (Nearctic spp.). 

 apicalis apicalis (Cresson). S. Dak., Nebr., Kans., Tex., Wyo., Utah, Colo., N. Mex., Ariz., Nev., 

 east. Calif, principally from Transit. Zone. Ecology: Nests have been found in holes of 

 an old, barkless, cottonwood log in Utah; it also is reported to construct its nests in the 

 doorways of homes in Arizona. Parasite: Anthrax cintalapa Cole. Pollen: Oligolectic, 

 stores pollen of Opuntia, but visits other flowers presumably for nectar including 

 Echinocactus, Encelia californica, Eriogonum, Sphaeralcea. 

 Lithurgus apicalis Cresson, 1875. In Wheeler, Rpt. Geog. Geol. Expl. and Surv. west of 

 100th Meridian, v. 5, p. 724. 9. 



Taxonomy: Rozen, 1973. Amer. Mus. Novitates 2527: 6-8, figs. 13-18 (larva). 



Biology: Parker and Potter, 1973. Pan-Pacific Ent. 49: 294-299, 19 figs, (nest, larval habits, 

 parasite). 

 apicalis littoralis (Cockerell). South Tex. (Point Isabel; near Brownsville). 



Lithurgus apicalis littoralis Cockerell, 1917. In W. P. Cockerell, N. Y. Ent. Soc. Jour. 25: 

 191. 6. 



