The Asian giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis Smith 1853 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Megachilidae), a new exotic species for the bee fauna of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)

Abstract

Megachile sculpturalis Smith 1853 is found for the first time on the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). This is the first time that this exotic bee is reported from an island and is the southernmost record in Europe so far. Specimens were found in five distant locations throughout the island, which points out the current broad distribution of this species within the island and suggests that the introduction of M. sculpturalis may have happened earlier than 2020 and went unnoticed. M. sculpturalis females were found mainly feeding and collecting pollen from Sophora japonica L. 1767 (= Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott 1830) and Parkinsonia aculeata L. 1753, two exotic ornamental trees. Potential entry means and impacts of this exotic bee on local biodiversity are discussed. Island ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the negative impacts produced by exotic species. Judging from the evidence of negative effects described in the literature so far, we recommend that the invasive potential and the impact of this species on native plants and pollinators within the insular context of the Balearic Islands be addressed in the future.

Keywords

Megachilidae; Megachile; Megachile sculpturalis; Balearic Islands; species introduction; invasive alien species; wild bees; island ecosystem

Published in

Journal of Apicultural Research
2021, Volume: 60, number: 3, pages: 506-511 Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Diaz Calafat, Joan

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2021.1874177

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/110693