Macropis nuda
| Macropis nuda | |
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| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Euarthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Melittidae |
| Genus: | Macropis |
| Species: | M. nuda |
| Binomial name | |
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Macropis nuda (Provancher, 1882) |
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| Range of M. nuda | |
Macropis nuda is a ground nesting, univoltine bee native to northern parts of North America. Thus, this species cocoons as pupae and hibernates over the winter. The species is unique as it is an oligolectic bee, foraging mainly for floral oils from loosestrife of the genus Lysimachia.
Macropis nuda is a member of the family Melittidae and the order Hymenoptera. All species of the genus Macropis are oligolectic, as females forage for loosestrife plant oil to line their nests and provision to their eggs. Macropis bees are commonly referred to as oil-bees, as they are the main pollinators of oil-plants such as plants of the genus Lysimachia.
Both males and females of M. nuda are roughly 7-7.5mm in length.
The head, thorax, and abdomen of M. nuda females are a dark black. Females have dense white scopa on their posterior tibiae that are foraging adaptations used for collecting and carrying floral oils and pollen. These scopae are distinct from other bees as they use capillary action to hold floral oils.
Similar to females, the head, thorax and abdomen of M. nuda males are dark black. Males are differentiated by having much less scopa, or hair, on their posterior tibiae. Males are characterized by yellow markings on their heads, the broad plate on the front of the head being completely yellow.
M. nuda is native to North America. As it is an oligolectic bee, it is found where plants of the Lysimachia genus grow. M. nuda can be found in parts of Canada, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Maine, New Jersey and New York.
M. nuda females are solitary and build their nests in the ground each season, but may reuse old nests. Nests are inhabited by a single female and no males.
M. nuda females are particular about their nest sites as their nests are in the ground. Females will make their nests in shady areas of drier, sandy-loam textured soil. Nests are typically near the loosestrife flowers from which females collect oil and pollen. Though females are solitary and build their own nests, nests will be found in aggregates due to the criteria of nest site.
M. nuda nests are compact and rather shallow, as the deepest cells are only up to 6.5mm below the surface. Entrances of nests are usually concealed by dried leaves, twigs, rocks, or low-growing plants. Burrows are approximately 3.0-3.5mm in diameter and are coated with a waterproof lining created from the floral oils collected by the female. The lining maintains homeostatic humidity conditions for offspring. Cells are also coated with this waterproof lining to keep them dry while offspring are in their cocoons during the winter.
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Wikipedia