Range expansion of the Asian native giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Megachilidae) in France

Abstract

In 2008, a new species for the French bee fauna was recorded in Allauch near Marseille: the giant resin bee, Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853). This was the first European record of this species that is native to East Asia. To our knowledge, it is the first introduced bee species in Europe. Here, we provide an overview of the current distribution of M. sculpturalis in France and we describe the history of its range expansion. Besides our own observations, information was compiled from literature and Internet websites, and by contacting naturalist networks. We collected a total of 117 records (locality × year combinations) for the 2008–2016 period. The geographical range of M. sculpturalis has extended remarkably, now occupying a third of continental France, with the most northern and western records located 335 and 520 km from Allauch, respectively. Information on its phenology, feeding, and nesting behavior is also provided. We report several events of nest occupation or eviction of Osmia sp. and Xylocopa sp. individuals by M. sculpturalis. Our results show that M. sculpturalis is now well established in France. Given its capacity to adapt and rapidly expand its range, we recommend amplifying the monitoring of this species to better anticipate the changes in its geographical range and its potential impacts on native bees.

Exotic garden plants partly substitute for native plants as resources for pollinators when native plants become seasonally scarce

“…Fitch et al 2019 ), it is noteworthy that all bee species collected by us are native to Germany. It will be interesting to see if the likely spread of exotic bees in the area (Le Féon et al 2018 ) will influence plant-pollinator interactions.…”

Dispersal patterns of an introduced wild bee, Megachile sculpturalis Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in European alpine countries

“…sculpturalis was found at a European country in Aullach (France) and became the first recorded wild bee accidently introduced on the continent [ 38 ]. Megachile sculpturalis most likely arrived in the little city near Marseille by shipping, spreading along the major maritime trading routes as a stowaway [ 38 , 39 ]. In the following year, M .…”

“…Alpine mountain chains seem to be no limiting factor for its dispersal in France. Nevertheless, observations were missing for some French areas, for example eastern regions (Côte d’Or and Jura) near the border to Switzerland [ 39 ].…”

Beyond the Decline of Wild Bees: Optimizing Conservation Measures and Bringing Together the Actors

“…Coordinated international measures to avoid biological invasions should thus be a central concern in importation policies. The setup of a monitoring of these invasive species represents a priority: it could allow to obtain the data needed to follow population dynamics and assess their potential impact on native species and ecosystems [206].…”