Identification of Megachilid Species (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and Other Pollinators in Apple Orchards in Chihuahua, México

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Research on the diversity and abundance of taxa pollinators at the community level are essential to know aspects of their biology, ethology, ecology and the impacts on reproduction and plant diversity. Bees have an important role in providing pollination, which is essential to plant reproduction. The objective of the study was to document the diversity and abundance of bee pollinators, with emphasis in Megachilid species, in 2 unmanaged apple orchards, located in Cuauhtémoc and Guerrero, Chihuahua, México. Both orchards had similar conditions, with intermediate levels of adjacent natural/semi-natural habitat. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, special wood nesting traps for capturing Osmia spp. were installed. Four species of solitary pollinator bees of Osmia genus were captured, of which the most represented was Osmia sp.1, with 323 specimens, followed by Osmia sp.2 with 84 specimens, O. lignaria Say with 11 specimens and 3 specimens of O. integra Cresson. Also, other species of bees and wasps visitors of plants with flowers were found such as Trachusa sp., Anthidium spp., Megachile pugnata Say, Heriades carinatus Cresson, Xylocopa sp., Bombus sp., Ancistrocerus tuberculocephalus (Saussure) and Vespula sp.