Megachile concinna Smith

Megachile concinna Smith; syn.: Megachile atratula Rebmann (see Gonzalez et al. 2010)

Description.

Smallest of the leafcutter bees in the Azores (total length 9 mm in females and 7 mm in males). Strongly banded tergites, silvery-brown appearance. Females have a silvery pollen brush underneath the abdomen (Fig. 9e).

Distinguishing features.

Smallest of the leafcutter bees on the Azores, silvery-brown appearance; fast flyer.

General distribution.

Mediterranean region.

Distribution in the Azores.

Corvo, Flores, Faial.

First record.

Ornosa et al. (2007), as Megachile atratula .

Nesting.

Probably in sandy ground near the coast but no nest observations available from the Azores.

Social behaviour.

Solitary.

Foraging.

Polylectic, with strong preference for Fabaceae, especially Lotus species (Fig. 9f).

Phenology.

Observed in July-August.

Material.

None seen; listed in the AMNH database for the Azores - http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20l?id=AMNH_BEES67697

Note.

The Megachile concinna complex is currently focus of phylogenetic analyses by C. Praz but no Azorean material was included in the study (C. Praz, pers. comm., Sept. 2016).