Giant Resin Bee

In Bratislava in botanical garden We found this bee on the ground. At first look I thought it is our common Xylocopa violacea. But its body was slimmer and not so shiny. This bee interrested me so I took it with Me. After closer examination I detremined it as Megachile sculpturalis. This bee is not native to Slovakia, nor Europe. This is invasive species from far East. This finding turns out to be only fourth case in me country and all previous findings were also only few days old. The bee is dark with yellow hairs on thorax and coarse abdomen. Wing are transparent but slightly dim to brown shade. Males have yellow hairs on the front of the head. The female can reach up to 25 mm what is quite impressive size. (GPS: 48.14717, 17.07409)

 
Detail of the abdomen of the bee posses coarse surface.

About the biology: Megachile sculpturalis is solitary living bee that buids its nests in pre existing cavities in wood or artifical holes. Since They dont make the holes by itself sometimes may occupy holes belonging to Xylocopa violacea. Brood cells are composed by resin mixed with plant debris, mud and wood. In the brood cells female lay single egg and pollen that serve as food for hatched larva.


Male of the Megachile sculpturalis.

The bee may be threat to our own native species. Its presence can be negatively correlated with the emergence of native bee species like Xilocopa violacea that may outcompete nesting holes. Despite this, the bee is really beautiful by itself and I just cant wait to see living bees flying over the flovers.

Bee with long filliform antennae.   




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