Protepeolini
Genus Guides
1Protepeolini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the Apidae. The tribe includes the Leiopodus and, according to some sources, Epeoloides. Members are specialized of other bees, with larvae exhibiting distinctive killing toward offspring. First instar larvae show unusual developmental patterns, including extended or abbreviated stadia.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Protepeolini: //ˌproʊ.tɛp.iˈoʊ.lɪ.naɪ//
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Images
Host Associations
- Macropis fulvipes - of Epeoloides coecutiens
- Diadasina sp. - of Leiopodus trochantericus
Life Cycle
First instar larvae exhibit unusual developmental patterns: Leiopodus trochantericus first instar is quiescent for an extended period, while Epeoloides coecutiens has an unusually short first instar stadium. In E. coecutiens, the second instar performs killing . In L. trochantericus, the first instar kills the late second or third instar of the .
Behavior
Cleptoparasitic. Larvae kill offspring: second instar in Epeoloides coecutiens, first instar in Leiopodus trochantericus (targeting late second or third instar host larvae).
Ecological Role
of other bees; reduces reproductive success by usurping nest provisions and eliminating host offspring.
Similar Taxa
- OsiriniRelated tribe of cleptoparasitic bees; Epeoloides larvae share similarities with other osirine but also possess characters previously considered autapomorphies of Leiopodus
More Details
Taxonomic composition
Sources differ on tribal composition: iNaturalist and Wikipedia recognize only Leiopodus, while the cited Entomologica Fennica paper treats both Epeoloides and Leiopodus as Protepeolini. Epeoloides is sometimes placed in tribe Osirini.