Family: Megachilidae
Subfamily: Megachilinae
Tribe: Megachilini
Genus: Megachile Latreille, 1802
Subgenus: Chelostomoda Michener, 1962
Common name: none
Megachile (Chelostomoda) are black bees with white apical bands on the terga, and yellow or white scopa (Wu 2005; Niu et al. 2012). They range in body length from 6.5–10 mm (Michener 2007).
(modified from Michener 2007; Gonzalez 2008)
Megachile (Chelostomoda) may be confused with bees within the genus Hackeriapis due to a similar appearance, small body length, and T2–T3 with strong postgradular grooves (Michener 2007). Female Megachile (Chelostomoda) can be differentiated from Hackeriapis by the presence of apical hairs from S2–S4 and by the large, incomplete cutting edge in the second interspace of the mandible (Michener 2007).
Megachile (Chelostomoda) has been observed visiting Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Oxalidaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Zingiberaceae (Karunaratne et al. 2005; Niu et al. 2012).
Megachile (Chelostomoda) nests in pre-existing cavities. Nest plugs are constructed using irregular pieces of leaves and leaf pulp (Michener 2007; Gonzalez 2008).
Megachile (Chelostomoda) consists of fourteen species (Michener 2007); none are known to occur in the U.S. or Canada.
There are no known invasives.
Megachile (Chelostomoda) are native to Asia and Australia. They range from India to as far west as Japan and the Solomon Islands, and as far south as northern Australia (Michener 2007). One specimen of M. spissula was collected in Hamburg, Germany. This specimen was likely transported from Asia within a nest and is not established in Germany (Praz 2017).
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