Natural history of Macrotera pipiyolin (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) in the Estación de Biología Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract

Information on the natural history of Macrotera pipiyolin in the Estación de Biología Chamela (IBUNAM), based on observations made between June and August 1994 is presented. Bees emerged shortly after the rainy season; their peak of activity was in early July, with 35 days of activity. The activity of the bee is consistent with the flowering of Opuntia excelsa, the plant that provides its resources. Mating occurs on flowers, where males present 3 types of reproductive strategies: dominant, subordinate, and patrolling. Females are polyandrous and males are polygamous. Females usually build nests near O. excelsa and they have a gregarious distribution. The nests are simple with a main tunnel; after cells are provisioned with pollen and an egg is oviposited, they are closed off from the main tunnel. To provide a cell requires from 2 to 18 loads of pollen. The development from egg to larva occurs in 1 month, after which the larvae remain in this state for 10 months and the pupae appear a few days before emergence.