The Giant Resin Bee, Megachile sculpturalis Smith: New Distributional Records for the Mid- and Gulf-south USA

Biodivers Data J. 2015 Oct 26:(3):e6733. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e6733. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Background: Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith, the giant resin bee, is an adventive species in the United States. First established in the United States during the early 1990s, records currently exist from most states east of the Mississippi River along with Iowa and Kansas.

New information: New distributional records are presented for Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith, an introduced bee. Additional records presented here expand the known distribution southwest through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. An updated host plant list containing new records is also presented, expanding the number of known floral associations.

Keywords: Callomegachile; Giant Resin Bee; Megachile sculpturalis; adventive; distribution; introduced; invasive species; range expansion.