DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v67i2.4855Sociobiology 67(2): 322-325 (June, 2020) Open access journal: http://periodicos.uefs.br/ojs/index.php/sociobiology ISSN: 0361-6525 Ericrocidini comprise a tribe of cleptoparasite bees composed of 11 genera, mostly with Neotropical distribution (Snelling & Brooks, 1985; Moure & Melo, 2007). These bees are almost exclusively related to Centris Fabricius nests (Snelling & Brooks, 1985; Rozen & Buchmann, 1990;Rocha- Filho et al., 2009), except Mesoplia rufipes (Perty) and Mesonychium asteria (Smith) which have been respectively reported as cleptoparasites (Rozen, 1969;Hiller & Wittmann, 1994; Gaglianone, 2005; Rocha-Filho et al., 2008) and probable cleptoparasites (Gaglianone, 2005; Rocha-Filho et al., 2008) of Epicharis Klug species. Despite the large number of species belonging to this tribe, the associations between cleptoparasites and hosts in this group still poorly known. The genus Mesonychium Lepeletier and Serville, is the second most diverse of Ericrocidini, with nine species (Moure & Melo, 2007). This genus is widespread distributed Abstract Mesonychium asteria (Smith) is a cleptoparasitic bee with occurrence restricted to South America. In this study, we provide new information related to the host association and cleptoparasitic behavior of this species in nests of Centris xanthomelaena Moure and Castro. Observations were conducted at the nesting sites of C. xanthomelaena in a Caatinga area of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Females of M. asteria were observed performing overflying in nest aggregations and attacking some nests. We have confirmed the cleptoparasitic association with the emergence of adult M. asteria from the host bee nests, and also by the presence of its larva on the brood cells. Sociobiology An international journal on social insects HOJ Martins1, PL Oliveira-Rebouças2, VS Ferreira1 Article History Edited by Evandro Nascimento Silva, UEFS, Brazil Received 01 November 2019 Initial acceptance 07 January 2020 Final acceptance 08 January 2020 Publication date 30 June 2020 Keywords Caatinga; Centris (Paracentris); host association; solitary bee. Corresponding author Herbeson Ovidio de Jesus Martins Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco Campus de Ciências Agrárias, Colegiado de Ciências Biológicas, Rodovia BR 407, km 12 – Lote 543 Projeto de Irrigação Senador Nilo Coelho s/nº - C1 CEP: 56300-990 - Petrolina-PE, Brasil. E-Mail: herbeson.bio@hotmail.com in the high and/or dry regions in South America (Michener, 1979; Snelling & Brooks, 1985; Silveira et al., 2002). Little is known about the biology of this genus and its association with hosts, with M. asteria and Mesonychium jenseni (Friese, 1906) the only two species with their host records available in the literature (see Rocha-Filho et al., 2009 and references therein). From this study, we provide new information related to the cleptoparasitic behavior of M. asteria in nests of Centris (Paracentris) xanthomelaena Moure and Castro, a ground- nest bee endemic of Caatinga. Observations on M. asteria were carried out at the nesting sites of C. xanthomelaena in a Caatinga area at the Campus de Ciências Agrárias of the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (CCA/ UNIVASF) (9°19’44.2”S, 40°33’30.1”W), Petrolina, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The climate is dry and hot semiarid (BSh according to Köpen 1 - Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, Brazil 2 - Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Juazeiro, Brazil Host records and cleptoparasitic behavior of the cuckoo bee Mesonychium asteria (Smith) (Apidae, Ericrocidini) in nests of Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro (Apidae, Centridini) SHORT NOTE Sociobiology 67(2): 322-325 (June, 2020) 323 classification) with low rainfall mostly from February to April (Alvares et al., 2013). The monitoring of the nests was done from May to June 2015 and from July to November 2017. Field observations were conducted between 04:50 a.m. and 06:00 p.m. Voucher specimens were sent to bee taxonomists for identification and then they were deposited in the Entomological Collection of the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ). Mesonychium asteria was the main natural enemy of the nests of C. xanthomelaena. We identified two behaviors performed by females of M. asteria: (1) overflying of nesting sites, and (2) invasion of nests (Fig 1A). Cleptoparasitic females visited the nest site at least twice a day, once during the morning and another during the afternoon. Besides that, females of M. asteria flyover near the ground patrolling any hole in the ravine. After finding an active nest of C. xanthomelaena, the female of M. asteria either invaded it immediately or landed close to the nest entrance waiting until the host left temporarily the nest, for about 10/15 min, to invade it (Fig 1B, C). Mesonychium asteria spent between 50 seconds and 14 minutes inside the host nests (n = 6). After landing close to the nest entrance, the females externalized their ovipositors immediately. During the period of invasion we sometimes observed a buzz inside the nest. After parasitized, the nests were quite frequently visited, and the overfly behavior was suppressed. Fig 1. Behavior of the female of Mesonychium asteria. (a) cleptoparasite bee invading nest, (b), (c) female waiting close to the nest entrance, (d) M. asteria visiting flower of Rhaphiodon echinus close to nest site. HOJ Martins, PL Oliveira-Rebouças, VS Ferreira – Host records and cleptoparasitic behavior of the cuckoo bee 324 It indicated that M. asteria might be able to memorize their parasite nests, as reported to other cleptoparasite bees (Coville et al., 1983). In three occasions, the female of M. asteria entered the nest while the host bee was inside and the cleptoparasite was thrown out of the nest. Eleven adults of M. Asteria emerged from nine nests. The developing time for these adults ranged from 159 to 227 days. Four larvae of a natural enemy, probably M. Asteria, based on larval development of bees from the same tribe (Vinson et al., 1987; Rozen et al., 2011), were observed in open brood cells of four different nests. In one brood cell a first instar larval stage was found above the pollen mass with no presence of the host bee’s egg or larvae (Fig 2A). Larva from the first instar stage had a prognathous head, head capsule pigmented and sclerotized with an elongate mandible, and the chorion attached to its end (Fig 2B), as visualized on other first instar larva of Ericrocidini tribe (Vinson et al., 1987; Rozen et al., 2011). In three brood cells we observed a well-developed larva, already with the cocoon. The cocoon of M. Asteria has a silken fibrous consistency (Fig 2C), that is different from the cocoon of C. Xanthomelaena. In addition, we also observed M. Asteria and C. Xanthomelaena sharing the same source of nectar: Poincianella microphylla (Fabaceae) and Rhaphiodon echinus (Lamiaceae) (Fig 1D). Despite of the genus Mesonychium have been reported as a parasite of nests from the subgenus Centris (Paracentris) Cameron, (Rocha-Filho et al., 2009), this study is the first to confirm the association of both. For the genus Centris, only Centris (Centris) pulchra Moure, Oliveira and Viana, was reported as host of M. Asteria (Rocha-Filho et al., 2009). However, Mahlmann and Oliveira (2012) pointed to a possible error in the identification of M. Asteria in their study, which makes the present study unprecedented in the registration of M. Asteria as a nest cleptoparasite for the genus Centris. Further, the records of M. Asteria which indicated association with Epicharis nests, were based on indirect evidence of parasitism in nests of Epicharis nigrita (Friese) and Epicharis icolour Smith, (Gaglianone, 2005; Rocha-Filho et al., 2008), because there were not records of emergence of M. Asteria from these possible host bee brood cells. Finally, it is probable that M. Asteria has a preference for C. Xanthomelaena nests, since in the same area two other species of Centris (Centris) Fabricius, and one of Centris (Trachina) Klug, are nesting, however no cases of invasion or emergence of M. Asteria from their nests was observed. This fact may be associated first with the body similarity of the parasite species with its host, as well as brood cell size. Beyond that, the evidence of parasite and host sharing the same food source may explain the M. Asteria preference for C. Xanthomelaena nests. Acknowledgements The authors thank Dr. Felipe Vivallo (Museu Nacional/ UFRJ) for the identification of the species and for comments and suggestions in the earlier version of this note. We also thank Matthew White Ellis for the advice on English language. References Alvares, C.A., Stape, J.L., Sentelhas, P.C., Gonçalves, J.L.M. & Sparovek, G.(2013). Köppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. 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