Surveys of Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) in Natural Areas of Alachua County in North-Central Florida

Bee surveys were conducted in Alachua County, Florida, at 1 to 6 sites within each of 4 natural areas including 2 large state preserves. Bees were collected passively with colored cups and actively with nets. A total of 2,590 bees were captured belonging to 34 genera and 111 species. Of the 5 bee fa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Florida entomologist 2010-12, Vol.93 (4), p.609-629
Main Authors: Hall, H. Glenn, Ascher, John S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apidae
bee bowls
Bees
Bumblebees
cleptoparasitic bees
fauna
Halictidae
Highlands
Honey bees
Insect nests
Insect pollination
males
native bees
Nests
Osmia
Plants
Pollinating insects
Prairies
rearing
Research Papers
surveys
Taxa
trap nests
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Summary:Bee surveys were conducted in Alachua County, Florida, at 1 to 6 sites within each of 4 natural areas including 2 large state preserves. Bees were collected passively with colored cups and actively with nets. A total of 2,590 bees were captured belonging to 34 genera and 111 species. Of the 5 bee families found, Apidae was represented by the most species, whereas the 6 most numerous species were Halictidae. Six species are new state records for Florida. Males of the rarely-collected Florida endemic bee Stelis ater Mitchell were discovered, and this species is reported for the first time as a cleptoparasite of Osmia chalybea Smith, confirmed by rearing from trap nests. Other potential new host-parasite associations are discussed. Bee species lists and ecological patterns are compared with those from previous surveys in southern Florida. Distinctive characteristics of the north-central Florida bee fauna are discussed including the presence of both northern and peninsular species, subspecies, and populations.
ISSN:0015-4040
1938-5102
DOI:10.1653/024.093.0419