Molecular characterization and biological attributes of the carpenter bees in Uttarakhand
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Date
2016-08
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out on the taxonomic review, molecular phylogeny, phylogeography and biological attributes of the carpenter bees. A total of seven Xylocopa species, viz., X. fenestrata, X. latipes, X. aestuans, X. amethystina, X. tranquebarorum and two unknown species were reviewed from Uttarakhand. Taxonomic keys provided the clear cut easy recognition of both sexes of these bees. The morphological description emphasized on the size, colouration, punctuation, pubescence and distinct structural characters of these bees. A total of three species viz., Ceratina propinqua, Ceratina simillima and Ceratina compacta were reviewed from Pantnagar. Two mitochondrial gene fragments viz., Cytochrome Oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and Cyochrome b (cytb) from native Xylocopa fauna were amplified and sequenced for molecular phylogeny analyses. The CO1 gene efficiently differentiated the subgenera of Xylocopa genus into different clusters. Whereas, the genetic variation among the different geographical collection was more expressive in the cytb gene. The mitochondrial gene, CO1 of about 621 base pairs length was amplified in Ceratina propinqua and Ceratina compacta for molecular phylogeny analyses. The tree topology clearly differentiated four subgenera viz., Pithitis, Ceratinidia, Neoceratina and Ceratinula. Devised artificial nesting structures except wooden blocks provided nesting shelters for the carpenter bees. In bundles of rigid dried sticks, Saccharum bengalense (13.33%) and Sesbania bispinosa (27.14%) sticks were used by small carpenter bees and tunnels of Arundo donax (1.9%) were used by megachilid bees. X. fenestrata and X. aestuans successfully nested in bamboo canes/culms (18.36%). In super bee nesting chambers, C. propinqua preferably nested in S. bispinosa, S. bengalense and Bambusa sp. sticks, while C. simillima and C. compacta preferably nested in S. bispinosa sticks. In triangular bee boxes, S. bispinosa (70.83%) sticks provided successful nesting for small carpenter bees. In nesting stands, Caesalpinia pulcherrima (80.20%) and Rosa sp. (28.12%) sticks were used by small carpenter bees for their nesting. Biological attributes of the small carpenter bees revealed that the nest making and brood rearing season for C. propinqua adults started in summer and continued in monsoon, and the hibernation in C. propinqua adults started in monsoon season and continued up to winter season. The occurrence of C. simillima males with wing score 0 in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons indicated that the males are either newly emerged or hibernating in these seasons. The nest making and brood rearing season for C. compacta adults started in summer and continued in monsoon, and the hibernation in C. compacta adults started in postmonsoon season and continued up to winter season. Nest architecture and size of adults varied in different Ceratina species. The development period varied from 20 to 24 days in these three species. Nesting biology of X. fenestrata and X. aestuans revealed that under natural conditions females of both species preferred to dig the nests in wooden logs while males preferred to nest in available open ended bamboo culms. X. fenestrata and X. aestuans females’ nests in bamboo culms were linear and un-branched, while females’ nests of X. tranquebarorum and Xylocopa sp. in bamboo culms were branched. Branched nests contained two termini in bamboo culms, one large terminus and one small terminus. X. tranquebarorum females have more brood rearing potential (clutch size: 9-10) than unknown Xylocopa sp. females (clutch size: 5-6). The nest entrance diameter varied from 7.50 to 8.85 mm in X. tranquebarorum and 8.10 to 9 mm in unknown Xylocopa species. The tunnel length varied from 290 to 374 mm in X. tranquebarorum and 342 to 380 mm in unknown Xylocopa species. Taxonomic description with molecular techniques provided the precise identification of the carpenter bees. High potentials of nesting structures in providing the nesting shelters for carpenter bees are useful in augmentation of these bees. Biological attributes of carpenter bees are accredited to their conservation and management which would lead to increase in pollination services and decrease in costs of crop pollination.
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