Lithurgus

Berthold, 1827

Woodborer Bees

Species Guides

Lithurgus chrysurus(Mediterranean wood-boring bee)

Lithurgus is a of solitary bees in the Megachilidae, commonly known as woodborer bees. in this genus excavate nesting tunnels in dead wood rather than using pre-existing cavities. They are distributed across the Mediterranean Basin, Eurasia, North Africa, and parts of Asia, with some species showing recent northward range expansion. Several species have been introduced outside their native ranges, including L. chrysurus and L. huberi in the Americas.

Lithurgus albofimbriatus froggatti by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Lithurgus fortis nigerrimus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lithurgus: //laɪˈθɜːrɡəs//

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Identification

Distinguished from other megachilid bees by their habit of excavating nesting tunnels in dead wood rather than using pre-existing cavities. Females carry pollen on the scopa (abdominal pollen brush) rather than on the hind legs. The is characterized by robust body form and mandibular modifications for wood excavation.

Images

Habitat

Dead wood, including dead branches and logs; forest edges; moist and warm environments. Some utilize gardens and anthropogenic .

Distribution

Native range centered on the Mediterranean Basin, extending through North Africa (Morocco, Algeria), southern and southern-central Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Central Asia to Central Siberia. Recent records document northward expansion into northern France, Poland, and Belarus. Several introduced to the Americas: L. chrysurus and L. huberi are established in North and South America.

Seasonality

season primarily July to August for temperate ; .

Diet

Pollen from Asteraceae (primarily Carduoideae: Carduus, Cirsium, Centaurea, Onopordum), also Cichorium, Helianthus, Taraxacum; Fabaceae (Onobrychis); Chenopodiaceae (Chenopodium); Boraginaceae (Echium). Feeding habits range from oligolectic to mesolectic/polylectic depending on and region.

Life Cycle

. Solitary nesting; females excavate tunnels in dead wood and construct 2-6 arranged linearly, each provisioned with pollen. Cells are lined with wood pulp and sealed with nest plugs of similar material.

Behavior

Excavates nesting tunnels in soft or dead wood using . Constructs partitions and nest plugs from wood pulp. Body position on flowers provides visual information that modulates interactions with other bees, including heterospecifics. Some show flexibility in body size in response to environmental and nutritional stress.

Ecological Role

of Asteraceae and other flowering plants. Wood-nesting contributes to decomposition processes in dead wood. Some serve as for cleptoparasitic bees (Stelis simillima, Stelis punctulatissima) and associated mites (Chaetodactylus spp.).

Human Relevance

Some have been introduced outside native ranges, potentially competing with native bees and managed honey bees. L. chrysurus and L. huberi are established in the Americas. Body size reductions in some have been linked to competition from managed honey bees and environmental stress.

Similar Taxa

MegachileAlso in Megachilidae with scopa, but Megachile typically uses pre-existing cavities rather than excavating wood tunnels.
AnthophoraWood-nesting apid bees that excavate tunnels, but Anthophora carries pollen on hind legs (corbiculae or scopae) rather than abdominal scopa.