Three new species of bee pollinators of the genus Megachile Lat. (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae) together with their foraging plants and period of activity
Abstract
Three new species of leaf-cutter bees discovered from India were described and named as Megachile haryanaensis, M. hisarensis, and M. dentata, M. haryanaensis can be distinguished from other species of Megachile by its dirty white piles on metasoma of both sexes, configuration of mandibles in female, characteristic male genitalia, sterna V, VI and VIII and apical tergum of males. M. dentata can be separated by the presence of snow white bands of pubescence on metasoma in both sexes. M. hisareaensis can be recognised by its body proportions. The other distinctive features for the separation of latter two species are the same as given in the case of M. haryanaensis. M. haryanaensis was found foraging on Medicago sativa, Luffa aegyptiaca, Trifolium alexandrium from March to April and Cucurbita maxima, Citrus sinensis from July to November. M. dentata was observed foraging on M. sativa Helianthus annuus, T. alexandrium from March to May and Gossypium spp., Psidium guajava, C. sinensis during October-November. M. hisarensis was found foraging on M. sativa during April.
