A new western Canadian record of Epeoloides pilosulus (Cresson), with discussion of ecological associations, distribution and conservation status in Canada

By

Sheffield, Cory S
Heron, Jennifer

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018-04-13

Original Publication

Biodiversity data journal

Volume

6

Pages

1--17

Subjects

COSEWIC , Macropis Cuckoo Bee , oil bee , oligolege

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft Publishers [2013]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.6.e22837
eLocator: e22837

 

Abstract

Epeoloidespilosulus, one of the rarest bees in North America, is a cleptoparasite ofMacropisbees which themselves are uncommon oligoleges of oil-producingLysimachiaflowers. Only two specimens of the cleptoparasite have been reported from Canada since the 1960s, both from Nova Scotia.A recently collected specimen ofEpeoloidespilosulusfrom Alberta, Canada confirms this species from that province and greatly increases its known range in western North America. This record and additional specimens from southern Ontario (one collected in 1978) have implications for the conservation status of this COSEWIC assessed species in Canada, which are discussed.