Nesting ecology and floral resource of <i>Xylocopa augusti</i> Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Argentina

Abstract

1- A total of 33 nests of <i>Xylocopa augusti</i> was studied during two consecutive seasons. 2- Nesting behaviour and floral resources used by the large carpenter bee <i>X. augusti</i> Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau were studied during the brood production season in an urban area in Argentina. 3- Biological information about nesting aspects inside and outside the nest was considered, paying particular attention to year-long activity, foraging flights throughout the day for nectar and pollen collection, nectar dehydration, oviposition, and pollen preference. 4- In the study area, <i>X. augusti</i> shows an univoltine life cycle, with a peak of nesting between October and December, which coincides with the greatest blooming period of the surrounding flora. 5- From 36 analyzed larval provision samples, 18 pollen types were identified, most of them belonging to ornamental trees or shrubs. Pollen from <i>Eucalyptus Myrceugenia glaucescens</i> (Cambess.) D. Legrand and Kausel (Myrtaceae), <i>Solanum sp.-Cyphomandra betacea</i> (Cav.) Sendtn. (Solanaceae) and <i>Erythrina crista-galli</i> L. (Fabaceae) was dominant. 6- The ability to obtain pollen from poricidal anthers such as those of <i>Solanum</i> indicate the potential of <i>X. augusti</i> to be an excellent managed pollinator and a good candidate for pollinating Solanaceae, such as <i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> ‘tomato’ and <i>Solanum melongena</i> ‘eggplant’, which are economically important crops in this region.