Ascosphaera apis, the entomopathogenic fungus affecting larvae of native bees (Xylocopa augusti): First report in South America.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays several invertebrate pollinators of crops and wild plants are in decline as result of multiple and, sometimes, unknown factors; among them, the modern agricultural practices, pests and diseases are postulated as the most important factors. Bees of the genus Xylocopa are considered effective pollinators of passion fruit crops in tropical regions, as well as important pollinators in wild plants, but these bees are attacked by several pathogens that affect different stages in their life cycle. The fungal species of the genus Ascosphaera are commonly associated with social and solitary bee larvae causing chalkbrood disease. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of Ascosphaera apis affecting larvae of Xylocopa augusti in South America. METHODS: For this purpose, A. apis was isolated from affected larvae in YGPSA medium. Final identification was run out by three techniques: (1) Microscopic examination of the hyphae and sizes of the fruiting bodies; (2) Mating test, and specific sexual compatibility test, and (3) PCR detection, using specific primers. RESULTS: This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of A. apis affecting larvae of X. augusti in South America. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of A. apis affecting the larvae of X. augusti, and the fact that the sharing of pathogens between different bee species has been underestimated, suggests the need for further epidemiological studies in order to determine not only the prevalence of this pathogen among wild pollinators, but also its relationship to the sudden collapse of honey bee colonies in this region.

A gynandromorph of Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae) / Un ginandromorfo de Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

We describe a mixed gynandromorph of Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) nigrocincta from a single specimen from Argentina. The specimen presents bilateral asymmetry, with the right half of its head displaying male characters and the left half displaying female characters; the mesosoma presents male characters mostly in the right half of the prothorax, pronotal lobe and distal half of the fore tibia and in the pubescence of tarsus; the rest of the mesosoma and the metasoma display female features

Se describe un ginandromorfo mixto de Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) nigrocincta de un ejemplar de Argentina. El ginandromorfo tiene asimetría bilateral en la cabeza, con su mitad derecha con caracteres del macho y su mitad izquierda con caracteres de la hembra. El mesosoma presenta algunas características de macho en la mitad anterior derecha (protorax, lóbulo pronotal, mitad posterior de la protibia y pubescencia del tarso), el resto de meso y metasoma con caracteres de la hembra.