Description of immature stages of cleptoparasitic bees Epeoloides coecutiens and Leiopodus trochantericus (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Osirini, Protepeolini) with remarks to their unusual biology

Abstract

This study presents descriptions of first instars and mature larvae of cleptoparasitic bees Epeoloides coecutiens (host Macropis fulvipes) and Leiopodus trochantericus (host Diadasina sp.). Larvae of the genus Epeoloides are described for the first time.

Keywords

• cleptoparasitism
• mode of parasitism
• host
• behaviour
• evolution
• larvae
• morphology
• characters
• Hymenoptera
• Apoidea
• Apidae
• Osirini
• Protepeolini
• bees