Microflora associated with the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (Fab)(Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)in Saskatchewan, Canada
Microflora associated with the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (Fab)(Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)in Saskatchewan, Canada
- Apidologie, 22, p.553-561, 1991 .
The microflora associated with Megachile rotundata was isolated from adult bees, lar-val cadavers, cell provisions, bee cell surfaces, and nest material. Dominant fungi included Alternar-ia alternata, Aspergillus niger, Eurotium chevalieri, Mucor sp, Penicillium spp, Saccharomyces sp, Trichoderma citrinoviride, and Trichosporonoides sp. Bacteria commonly isolated included Bacillus circulans, Bacillus mycoides, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Pseudomonas spp. These microorgan-isms may be involved in activities such as spoilage of provisions, production of enzymes, antibiotics, mycotoxins, and growth factors (vitamins, amino acids), metabolic conversion of provisions, and inhi-bition of competing microorganisms. Microbial succession was observed involving yeast and bacteri-al fermentation of provisions followed by mould overgrowth of cell contents; this process was often associated with larval mortality. The microflora isolated likely has a range of beneficial and deleteri-ous effects on M rotundata. Some fungal species reported here may also be potentially harmful to the health of leafcutting bee managers.
MEGACHLLE ROTUNDATA
ASSOCIATED MICROFLORA
FUNGUS
BACTERIA
CANADA
The microflora associated with Megachile rotundata was isolated from adult bees, lar-val cadavers, cell provisions, bee cell surfaces, and nest material. Dominant fungi included Alternar-ia alternata, Aspergillus niger, Eurotium chevalieri, Mucor sp, Penicillium spp, Saccharomyces sp, Trichoderma citrinoviride, and Trichosporonoides sp. Bacteria commonly isolated included Bacillus circulans, Bacillus mycoides, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Pseudomonas spp. These microorgan-isms may be involved in activities such as spoilage of provisions, production of enzymes, antibiotics, mycotoxins, and growth factors (vitamins, amino acids), metabolic conversion of provisions, and inhi-bition of competing microorganisms. Microbial succession was observed involving yeast and bacteri-al fermentation of provisions followed by mould overgrowth of cell contents; this process was often associated with larval mortality. The microflora isolated likely has a range of beneficial and deleteri-ous effects on M rotundata. Some fungal species reported here may also be potentially harmful to the health of leafcutting bee managers.
MEGACHLLE ROTUNDATA
ASSOCIATED MICROFLORA
FUNGUS
BACTERIA
CANADA