Première mention de Nomada barcelonensis Cockerell, 1917 pour la France (Hymenoptera : Apidae : Nomadinae)

First mention of Nomada barcelonensis Cockerell, 1917 for France (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Nomadinae) . - The authors relate here the discovery within Mediterranean fringe of metropolitan France, in the Var department, of a species of Nomada so far only known from Spain: Nomada barcelonensis Cockerell,1917. The ecology, biology and morphological description allowing its determination are presented as well as the conditions of capture of the specimen.

Editorial: Osmia, Journal of Hymenopterology

Editorial: Osmia, Journal of Hymenopterology

Découverte de Mimumesa wuestneii (Faester, 1951) dans la réserve naturelle nationale du Lac de Grand-Lieu (France, Loire-Atlantique), un site riche en Psenidae (Hymenoptera : Psenidae)

Discovery of Mimumesa wuestneii (Faester, 1951) in the national nature reserve of Lac de Grand-Lieu (Loire-Atlantique, France), a site rich in Psenidae (Hymenoptera: Psenidae). - Mimumesa wuestneii (Faester, 1951), a rare species associated with reed beds, is recorded in France for the first time, in a site which has also been found to be rich in Psenidae (Hymenoptera).

Influence des activités humaines sur la répartition des fourmis du genre Messor dans les Pyrénées-Orientales (Hymenoptera : Formicidae : Myrmicinae)

Influence of human activities on the distribution of ants of the genus Messor in Pyrénées-Orientales (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). - Based on the distribution of the genus Messor in Pyrénées-Orientales (France), a study of the distribution and geographical structure of the genus is presented, accompanied by a discussion of the process of dispersal over the ages. These ants have a diet strictly composed of seeds, the availability of which influences their establishment. A link between the historical development of human agriculture, characterized by concomitant displacement of cultivated and messicole plants, and the geographic distribution of Messor ants is suggested in this study.

First record of Xylocopa valga Gerstaecker, 1872 from the cold and arid conditions of Ladakh in India (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Xylocopini)

The presence of Xylocopa valga is reported for the first time from the high altitudes of Union Territory of Ladakh (more than 3,000 m above sea level), India. Several bees were observed in the area from May 2019 to September 2020, where it is considered to be a pest because of its aptness for making nests in residential and commercial buildings. The species has likely expanded its geographical area due to environmental changes. It is important to disseminate knowledge among Ladakh people about this bee to ensure the preservation of its populations.

A new species of the bee genus Ammobates Latreille, 1809 from sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The cleptoparasitic bee Ammobates (Ammobates) roggeveldi n. sp. is described from a female specimen collected in western South Africa. This is only the second species of the genus recorded from sub-Saharan Africa.

The Gasteruptiidae of the Maltese Islands, with the description of a new species of Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 from Malta and Italy (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea)

The gasteruptiid fauna of the Maltese archipelago is reviewed for the first time. Four species of Gasteruption are found to inhabit the Maltese Islands, and Gasteruption tanyakronum n. sp. van Achterberg is described on the basis of material collected from Malta and Sardinia (Italy).

Actualisation des connaissances sur l’abeille Megachile sculpturalis SMITH, 1853 en France et en Europe (Hymenoptera : Megachilidae)

Update of knowledge on the bee Megachile sculpturalis SMITH, 1853 in France and Europe (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). - Megachile sculpturalis is a bee native to eastern Asia that is now also present in North America and Europe. This article follows the first synthesis on the ecology and geographical distribution in Europe of this species published in this same journal in 2018 and updates their knowledge. Megachile sculpturalis has been observed in 13 European countries. Its range now extends from the French Atlantic coast in the west to the Crimean Peninsula in the east. It has also been recorded on two Mediterranean islands, Elba (Italy) and Mallorca (Spain). In France, between 2008 and 2020, it was observed in 259 communes in 46 departments. The most northerly French observation was made in 2020 near Reims in the Marne department. Concerning feeding behaviour, new pollen analyses corroborate the results of previous ones which suggested a polylectic diet with a marked preference for shrubs of Asian origin (especially Sophora japonica and Ligustrum sp.). Regarding nesting behaviour, M. sculpturalis makes extensive use of bee hotels. However, a range of diameters (holes in logs or sections of plant stems) between 4 and 8 mm is suitable for the main native species likely to nest in the hotels, while limiting the establishment of M. sculpturalis. New observations have confirmed the tendency of M. sculpturalis to empty the nests of other species in order to establish its own larval cells. In addition, in Switzerland, a female was observed killing a bee of the genus Heriades. Such events, if frequent, could have negative impacts on native bees, but data are currently insufficient to quantify these impacts on populations.

Surviving the winter: Tetramorium sibiricum n. sp., a new Central Siberian ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A new species of the thermophilous Tetramorium caespitum species complex, T. sibiricum n. sp., is described from the Central Siberian region near Ulan Ude that has mean January temperatures of – 24 °C. The new species is clearly separable from the related species, T. indocile Santschi, 1927 and T. caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758), by exploratory data analyses of 35 phenotypic characters and by a discriminant analysis of seven phenotypic characters. A key to these three species, which all might occur in Central Siberia, is provided. The zoogeographic divide called the Reinig Line (De Lattin, 1967) is considered to be important in separating the ranges of Central and East Palaearctic ant species with less strong cold-hardiness. Based on images of type specimens, Tetramorium annectens Pisarski, 1969 is recognized as heterospecific from T. tsushimae Emery, 1925.

Les périodes d’essaimage des fourmis parasites du sous-genre Chthonolasius observées dans la région Hauts-de-France (Hymenoptera : Formicidae : Formicinae)

Swarming periods of parasitic ants from the subgenus Chthonolasius observed in the Hauts-de-France region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). - Swarming periods of parasitic ants from the subgenus Chthonolasius are studied in Northern France. This work, carried out between 2014 and 2020, improves our understanding of their strategy for parasitising host species. The role of insect traps is discussed for the study of this group of insects, in particular the light traps which seems to be the most effective technique for detecting individuals belonging to this subgenus. The data collected also makes possible to question the patrimonial value of these species.