Descriptions of new gynandromorphs of Xylocopa augusti Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini) from Argentina

Gynandromorphs are individuals that display both male and female features throughout the body and are rarely found in nature. We document and describe two new gynandromorphs of the large carpenter bee Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti reared from a trap-nest in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In addition, based on a literature review, we assessed the frequency of the different types of gynandromorphs, and the body part affected, among large carpenter bees. Both gynandromorphs were assigned to the mixed category, the most common category reported in the literature (22 of 25 specimens). The remaining three specimens exhibit a bilateral pattern in all tagmata. The presence of both sexes' secondary sexual characteristics occurred more frequently on the mesosoma than on the head or metasoma. Trap nests used in bee hotels promote the conservation and study of wild bees and might facilitate the discovery of rare cases of gynandromorphs that would remain unknown otherwise under normal nesting conditions in the wild.(AU)

The first cases of gynandromorphism in oil-collecting bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae: Centridini, Tapinotaspidini)

Here we provide descriptions of gynandromorphs of two species oil-collecting bees: Lophopedia nigrispinis and Epicharis iheringii, both with partial bilateral phenotypic asymmetry. The bees have a female phenotype predominantly on mesosoma and metasoma. The specimen of L. nigrispinis has distinct characteristics on legs, suggesting a mosaic pattern of gynandromorphism. The pollen and oil loads on legs suggest that the bee was foraging normally. The gynander specimen of E. iheringii has mostly a female phenotype, except for head, with right half female type and left half male type. The specimen of L. nigrispinis was collected foraging on flowers of Bidens sp. at Parque Nacional Iguazú, Argentina with loads of pollen on legs suggesting it was reproductive and was provisioning a nest. The specimen of Epicharis iheriingi has no evidence of any oil or pollen collection, despite its mostly female phenotype.

The first cases of gynandromorphism in oil-collecting bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae: Centridini, Tapinotaspidini)

Here we provide descriptions of gynandromorphs of two species oil-collecting bees: Lophopedia nigrispinis and Epicharis iheringii, both with partial bilateral phenotypic asymmetry. The bees have a female phenotype predominantly on mesosoma and metasoma. The specimen of L. nigrispinis has distinct characteristics on legs, suggesting a mosaic pattern of gynandromorphism. The pollen and oil loads on legs suggest that the bee was foraging normally. The gynander specimen of E. iheringii has mostly a female phenotype, except for head, with right half female type and left half male type. The specimen of L. nigrispinis was collected foraging on flowers of Bidens sp. at Parque Nacional Iguazú, Argentina with loads of pollen on legs suggesting it was reproductive and was provisioning a nest. The specimen of Epicharis iheriingi has no evidence of any oil or pollen collection, despite its mostly female phenotype.(AU)