Abstract

Harrison’s rule, that body size is positively correlated between parasites and hosts, has been reported in a range of taxa, but whether the rule is applicable to cleptoparasitic insects is poorly understood. Subfamily Nomadinae, the largest group of cleptoparasitic bees, usurp the nests of a variety of host bees. Within the subfamily, Nomada exploits the most diverse hosts, using at least ten genera from five families. Here, we reassess the phylogeny of Nomadinae, including the expanded sampling of the genus Nomada, to explore host shift fluctuations throughout their evolutionary history and test the applicability of Harrison’s rule for the subfamily. Our phylogenetic results are mostly congruent with previous investigations, but we infer the tribe Hexepeolini as a sister taxon to the tribe Nomadini. Additionally, the results reveal discrepancies with the traditional classifications of Nomada. Ancestral state reconstruction of host use indicates that, early in their evolution, parasites used closer relatives, before attacking less related groups later. Lastly, we confirm Harrison’s rule in Nomadinae, supporting that body size dynamics influence the host shifts of cleptoparasitic bees.

Abstract

The furva species-group of Nomada from Korea is reviewed in the present study, with one newly recognized species, Nomada pulawskii Tsuneki. Detailed taxonomical description, and illustrations of adults and male genitalia are provided along with a key to species.

Abstract

The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most widespread insects with numerous subspecies in its native range. How far adaptation to local habitats has affected the cognitive skills of the different subspecies is an intriguing question that we investigate in this study. Naturally mated queens of the following five subspecies from different parts of Europe were transferred to Southern Germany: A. m. iberiensis from Portugal, A. m. mellifera from Belgium, A. m. macedonica from Greece, A. m. ligustica from Italy, and A. m. ruttneri from Malta. We also included the local subspecies A. m. carnica in our study. New colonies were built up in a common apiary where the respective queens were introduced. Worker offspring from the different subspecies were compared in classical olfactory learning performance using the proboscis extension response. Prior to conditioning, we measured individual sucrose responsiveness to investigate whether possible differences in learning performances were due to differential responsiveness to the sugar water reward. Most subspecies did not differ in their appetitive learning performance. However, foragers of the Iberian honeybee, A. m. iberiensis, performed significantly more poorly, despite having a similar sucrose responsiveness. We discuss possible causes for the poor performance of the Iberian honeybees, which may have been shaped by adaptation to the local habitat.

Abstract

Honey plants are considered a major role in the production of honey and pollen in the beekeeping industry. In South Korea, most production of honey has largely relied on a limited flowering plant, black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia). However, the forests of R. pseudoacacia have been gradually declined in South Korea because the Leaf-yellowing of black locust haswidely spread to most regions since early 21st Century. Therefore, alternative honey plants should be studied to resolve the severe reliance on black locust in Korean beekeeping. Although 610 species of honey plants are known from South Korea, the foraging activity of honey bees(Apis cerana and A. mellifera) and seasonal compositions of each region were poorly studied on them. In this study, we investigated 37 species of honey plants for estimating the foraging activity of honey bees for them and 41 species of honey plants for evaluating their seasonal composition in the central area of South Korea. As a result, the following 16 trees and herbs were found as honey plants showing a high level of honeybees activity. Buxus microphylla var. koreana, Prunusyedoensis, Rubus crataegifolius, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Staphylea bumaldai, Robiniapseudoacacia, Rosa multiflora, Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense, Trifolium repens, Ilexverticillata, Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis, Tilia amurensis, Koelreuteria paniculata, Fagopyrumesculentum, Perilla frutescens var. japonica, and Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum. On the seasonal composition of honey plants, Pyrus ussuriensis, Tilia amurensis, T. mandshurica,Impatiens textori, Dendranthema boreale, Elsholtzia ciliata, and Agastache rugosa were considered major honey plants in Inje county, as well as Prunus spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, and Castanea crenata.