Clone and leaf position effects on Populus defoliation by leaf-cutting bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Nugent, Scott P.; Wagner, Michael R.

doi:10.1016/0378-1127(95)03513-a

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The relationship between the length and width of the leaf cuttings Figure 3. The relationships between the length of the leaves with the length and width of the leaf cuttings Leafcutter bee-plant interaction pressure on a plant as reported by Nugent and Wagner (1995), except for very young saplings. The toughness of the hard midrib and veins of older leaves might prevent the bees from using them (Horne 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Leaf foraging sources of leafcutter bees in a tropical environment: implications for conservation

et al. 2017

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Leafcutter bees collect leaf discs to encase brood cells. However, our understanding of their use of plants as nesting resources, which is critical for their conservation, is poor. We followed plants and observed bees cutting leaves to understand the leaf and plant traits of the leaf forage plants of Megachile spp. We studied whether the leaf size explains the cut size and the number of cuts in the leaves. The bees collected leaves from 59 species, 49 genera and 25 families of plants of various habits. Plant habit, leaf morphotype and leaf size did not influence leaf choice by the bees. Of the plants surveyed, 45.22% had the distinguishable cutting marks. About 63% and 98% of the plants the bees used are native to the region and to the tropical southern hemisphere, respectively. Bees selected leaves over an extreme size range, and the leaf size predicted the number of cuts on a leaf. Comparing our results with other studies, we conclude that the leafcutter bees' selection of plants is adapted to the local environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Leaf foraging sources of leafcutter bees in a tropical environment: implications for conservation

et al. 2017

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“…We inspected a total of 6,120 individuals of 214 broadleafed species during July 2016 and 2017, immediately after the breeding season of the bees, thoroughly examining leaves at all possible heights (using binoculars if necessary) for leafcutter bee damage. As leafcutter bees are known to have preferences according to plant subspecies, clones and hybrids (Eigenbrode, White, & Tipton, ; Nugent & Wagner, ), we included all infraspecific categories in the data separately, except for ornamental roses (11 hybrids are present in the UA Arboretum, but these were included in the analysis as a single species, Rosa sp.). Although it has been reported that Megachile spp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging preferences of leafcutter bees in three contrasting geographical zones

Sinu

Bronstein

2018

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim: Leafcutter bees use plants as pollen and nectar sources, but also cut leaf discs and use them to line their nests. Which plant species they choose as nesting material and why they do so have remained obscure. We asked the following: (1) How are the plant species used by leafcutter bees distributed phylogenetically? (2) Does plant choice differ across geographical regions, and if so, in what ways? (3) Are the leaf plant species natives or exotics? (4) What plant and leaf traits predict selection of plant species by leafcutter bees? And (5) Does the abundance of individuals per species in the habitat influence leafcutter bees' plant preferences? Location: Tropical South Asia, temperate eastern Canada and US Sonoran Desert Methods: We mapped taxa known to be used by leafcutter bees both from our own study and published literature onto the most recent angiosperm phylogeny. To determine what plant and leaf traits predict leaf selection, we monitored 6,120 individuals of 214 native and exotic plant species planted in a 3-sq. km. arboretum in Arizona and recorded leaf damage inflicted by bees.Results: Megachile showed a strong preference for species in the rosid clade, particularly the phylogenetic cluster of Fabales, Fagales and Rosales. Thirty-two to forty-five percentage of the leaf plant species were exotic to a given region. Membership in the rosid clade and Fabaceae family predicted plant preference, whereas the plant species' local abundance and geographical origin did not. Leaf water content, morphotype and the presence of latex were important factors influencing plant choice, whereas leaf shape and size did not. Main conclusion:These patterns point to plant groups whose availability should be monitored to assure persistence of leafcutter bees. Their preference for specific globally distributed plant clades, yet ability to readily adopt certain exotic plant species as nest resources, likely augments their ability to persist. K E Y W O R D Santimicrobial, biogeography, distribution, diversity, evolution, herbivory, leafcutter bee, Megachile, Megachilidae, pollinator, urban ecosystem

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“…However, the leaf preferences of megachilid bee species have rarely been investigated. Identifying leaf preference could inform management and conservation [ 19 ], research and the improvement of experimental design [ 20 – 22 ], as well as plant selection and horticulture to reduce damage to ornamental plant species [ 23 ]. For example, Horne [ 19 ] experimentally evaluated the leaf preference of M. rotundata among 11 plant species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…for leaf pieces in nature and subsequently used the plant in pots in enclosures to study relationships between female body size and fecundity. Finally, Nugent & Wagner [ 23 ] compared the level of leaf defoliation by unidentified Megachile bee species on seven different Populus cultivars and found one cultivar was defoliated significantly less than all others. Mechanical properties of leaves are evidently important for leaf preference in leaf-collecting Megachile bees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA barcoding to identify leaf preference of leafcutting bees

MacIvor¹

2016

R. Soc. open sci.

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Leafcutting bees (Megachile: Megachilidae) cut leaves from various trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses to partition and encase brood cells in hollow plant stems, decaying logs or in the ground. The identification of preferred plant species via morphological characters of the leaf fragments is challenging and direct observation of bees cutting leaves from certain plant species are difficult. As such, data are poor on leaf preference of leafcutting bees. In this study, I use DNA barcoding of the rcbL and ITS2 regions to identify and compare leaf preference of three Megachile bee species widespread in Toronto, Canada. Nests were opened and one leaf piece from one cell per nest of the native M. pugnata Say (N=45 leaf pieces), and the introduced M. rotundata Fabricius (N=64) and M. centuncularis (L.) (N=65) were analysed. From 174 individual DNA sequences, 54 plant species were identified. Preference by M. rotundata was most diverse (36 leaf species, H′=3.08, phylogenetic diversity (pd)=2.97), followed by M. centuncularis (23 species, H′=2.38, pd=1.51) then M. pugnata (18 species, H′=1.87, pd=1.22). Cluster analysis revealed significant overlap in leaf choice of M. rotundata and M. centuncularis. There was no significant preference for native leaves, and only M. centuncularis showed preference for leaves of woody plants over perennials. Interestingly, antimicrobial properties were present in all but six plants collected; all these were exotic plants and none were collected by the native bee, M. pugnata. These missing details in interpreting what bees need offers valuable information for conservation by accounting for necessary (and potentially limiting) nesting materials.

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Clone and leaf position effects on Populus defoliation by leaf-cutting bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Cited by 8 publications

References 13 publications

Leaf foraging sources of leafcutter bees in a tropical environment: implications for conservation

Leaf foraging sources of leafcutter bees in a tropical environment: implications for conservation

Foraging preferences of leafcutter bees in three contrasting geographical zones

DNA barcoding to identify leaf preference of leafcutting bees

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