The bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) of Egadi’s Archipelago (Sicily, Italy)

Abstract

In the present study, we analysed the bee fauna reported in the Egadi Archipelago (circumsicilian islands). Field and bibliographical research carried out have allowed us to identify 40 taxa, between species and subspecies, belonging to five families: Colletidae (3 species), Andrenidae (9 spp.), Halictidae (4 spp.), Megachilidae (15 spp.), and Apidae (9 spp.). Twenty-seven species are reported here for the first time for the Egadi Archipelago, together with 13 species previously known from this archipelago, of which five are confirmed. For each species, details on collection data, distribution, and plants visited are given. Amongst the species recorded, Hylaeus duckei (Alfken, 1904) (Colletidae) and Osmia alfkenii Ducke, 1899 (Megachilidae) are new for Sicily. We include the first 'Checklist of bees of Egadi's Archipelago' (40 species reported). Furthermore, the Apidae Nomada sicula Schwarz, 1974 is reported for the first time as a parasite of Panurgus siculus Morawitz, 1871 (Andrenidae) and Lasioglossum parvulum (Schenck, 1853) (Halictidae) species.