Abstract

DALMAZZO, Milagros. Biología de nidificación de la abeja eusocial primitiva Augochlora phoemonoe (Halictidae). Rev. Mus. Argent. Cienc. Nat. [online]. 2018, vol.20, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 1853-0400.

The nesting biology of the primitively eusocial bee Augochlora phoemonoe (Halictidae) is described from nests collected in the field and nests constructed and maintained in the laboratory. This species nests in decaying wood, although it may accept plaster as nesting substrate. Two types of nest structure were found: cells laying on the substrate without a surrounding cavity in field conditions, and cells in a cluster supported by a variable number of pillars within a cavity in laboratory. Both structures had an entry hole surrounded by a compacted ring of sawdust, and an unbranched tunnel leading to the cells. The foundress female begins the nest solitarily. First she makes the entrance hole and the tunnel, and then she builds one or a few cells. The daughter females continue the construction of the nest during the social phase. Bees cut and separate the sawdust using the mandibles. Then, the bees transport the sawdust to other part of the nest and compact them using the latest metasomal terga. By the processes of removal, transport and compaction, the bees modify the substrate, excavate the tunnel and cavities, line the walls and construct pillars and cells. The findings of this study contribute with characters for a classification of nesting structures, and for further analysis of Augochlorini phylogeny.

Keywords : Augochlorini; Nest structure; Bee rearing; Native bees; Augochlora phoemonoe.