Ericrocidini

Ericrocidini bees can be distinguished from other cleptoparasitic Apidae by their association with oil-collecting hosts (Centridini) and specific morphological features of the first instar larvae, which possess strong mandibles adapted for killing host offspring. Adults generally lack the pollen-collecting structures found in non-parasitic bees. Generic identification requires examination of specific morphological characters: Ericrocis represents the basal lineage; Epiclopus is restricted to Chile and western Argentina; Mesoplia is the most diverse genus ranging from Arizona to northern Argentina; Mesonychium occurs from Venezuela and Brazil to central Chile and Argentina. Species-level identification typically requires detailed examination of male genitalia and other microscopic features.

Found in diverse Neotropical habitats where host bees nest, including tropical forests, Caatinga, and subtropical regions. Specific records include Brazilian Amazonian understory sites with trap-nests in forest reserves, and Caatinga areas of Pernambuco state. Host nests occur in preexisting cavities such as wood blocks with drilled tunnels, cardboard tubes, and natural hollows.

Neotropical region. Mesoplia ranges from southern United States (Arizona) through Mexico and Central America to northern Argentina, including the Antilles. Mesonychium occurs from Venezuela and Brazil to central Chile and Argentina. Epiclopus is restricted to Chile and western Argentina. Ericrocis is found in northern Mexico and the southern United States. Aglaomelissa duckei is known from Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, and Pará in northern Brazil.

Cleptoparasitic; larvae feed on floral oil and pollen provisions stored in host brood cells by Centris and Epicharis females. Adults do not collect pollen or nectar for their own offspring.

• Centris (Heterocentris) analis - confirmed hostAglaomelissa duckei emerged from trap-nests with 80-100% parasitism ratios
• Centris (Heterocentris) terminata - confirmed hostAglaomelissa duckei host with 50% brood cell parasitism observed
• Centris xanthomelaena - confirmed hostMesonychium asteria observed attacking nests and emerging from host nests in Caatinga, Brazil
• Centris flavofasciata - confirmed hostHost of Mesoplia sapphirina
• Centris conspersa - potential associationCyphomelissa diabolica potentially associated
• Epicharis albofasciata - confirmed hostMesoplia rufipes; derived host shift from Centris
• Epicharis nigrita - indirect evidenceMesoplia rufipes host association
• Epicharis bicolor - indirect evidenceMesoplia rufipes host association

Females invade host nests and use their sting or mandibles to kill host eggs or early-stage larvae. They deposit eggs in provisioned brood cells. First instar larvae possess strong, well-developed mandibles adapted to kill host offspring. Larvae complete development feeding on the floral oil and pollen provisions originally collected by the host female. High parasitism rates have been observed, with complete parasitism of entire nests documented.

Females exhibit nest-searching behavior, flying over host nesting aggregations to locate active nests. Observed attacking nests of Centris xanthomelaena in Caatinga habitat. Host specificity is relatively high, with non-random associations between parasite genera and host subgenera suggesting possible coevolutionary relationships. Mesoplia rufipes shows a derived behavior in exploiting Epicharis hosts in addition to Centris, unique within the tribe.

Obligate cleptoparasite of solitary oil-collecting bees (Centridini), potentially influencing host population dynamics and nesting success. High parasitism ratios (up to 100% of brood cells in individual nests) suggest significant impact on host reproduction. Possible coevolutionary relationship with Centris subgenera indicated by non-random host-parasite associations.

• RhathyminiSister tribe within the Ericrocidini+Rhathymini clade; both are cleptoparasitic lineages attacking oil-collecting bees, but distinguished by striking differences in first instar larval morphology adapted to distinct host nesting biology
• ProtepeoliniRelated tribe within the ericrocidine line; differs in host associations and geographic distribution
• IsepeoliniRelated tribe within the ericrocidine line; differs in host associations and geographic distribution
• CoelioxoidiniRelated tribe within the ericrocidine line; differs in host associations and geographic distribution
• NomadaUnrelated cleptoparasitic bees (Nomadinae) that attack different host groups (primarily Andrenidae and Apidae other than Centridini); distinguished by different host associations and morphological features

• cleptoparasitic
• cuckoo bee
• Neotropical
• Centris parasite
• oil-collecting bee parasite
• Apidae
• Apinae
• obligate parasite
• host specificity
• coevolution

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Paleocene origin of the Neotropical lineage of cleptoparasitc bees Ericrocidini-Rhathymini (Hymenoptera, Apidae)
• Taxonomic revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epiclopus Spinola, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Ericrocidini)
• New host records of Aglaomelissa duckei and a compilation of host associations of Ericrocidini bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
• Taxonomic revision and distribution of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Mesoplia (Apidae: Ericrocidini) from Mexico and Central America
• Biology of the Cleptoparasitic BeeMesoplia sapphirina(Ericrocidini) and Its HostCentris flavofasciata(Centridini) (Apidae: Apinae)
• Host records and cleptoparasitic behavior of the cuckoo bee Mesonychium asteria (Smith) (Apidae, Ericrocidini) in nests of Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro, (Apidae, Centridini)
• Nesting ecology of the oil-collecting bee Centris (Melacentris) conspersa Mocsáry and its potential association with the cleptoparasite Cyphomelissa diabolica Friese (Apidae: Centridini, Ericrocidini)