Natural enemies of the oil-collecting bee Centris analis (Fabricius, 1804) with notes on the behavior of the cleptoparasite Coelioxys nigrofimbriata Cockerell, 1919 (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

This work presents a review of natural enemy species associated with Centrisanalis and summarizes the available information on life history, behavior, diversity, and specialization of these taxa. Records include over 20 species in ten genera from seven distinct families of Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. These species are cleptoparasites or parasitoids of immature stages or adults. Some species seem to be occasional parasitoids, while others seem to be more frequent and responsible for significant mortality rates of immatures in nests. Three families of Hymenoptera represent the majority of natural enemy taxa found in C.analis nests: Apidae, Chrysididae, and Leucospidae. The most frequent parasitoid reared from nests was the wasp Leucospiscayennensis Westwood, followed by cleptoparasitic bee species of the genus Coelioxys Latreille. Vouchers of trap nest studies are identified for the first time and refer to Coelioxysnigrofimbriata Cockerell, which seems to have a strong association with nests of C.analis. Further direct observation notes about biology and behavior of C.nigrofimbriata are also provided.