A wild bee survey in Kibi (Wakayama Pref.), southern Japan

Abstract

The wild bee fauna was sampled at regular intervals between March and November 1969. Of the 1044 individuals counted, 35% were Halictidae, 34% Andrenidae, and 23% Anthophoridae. The 48 species included 13 Halictidae, 12 Megachilidae, 10 Andrenidae and 9 Anthophoridae. The main species were Panurginus crawfordi, Halictus (Seladonia) aerarius, Xylocopa appendiculata circumvolans and Lasioglossum (carinate Evylaeus) sp.Bee numbers showed a peak in spring, when there was an abundance of flowers. About 70% of bees were collected from 3 plant families: Cruciferae, Leguminosae and Compositae. There was a strong dependence on cultivated plants, particularly Cruciferae, during the spring.Results are compared with those obtained at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, in northern Japan [see previous abstract].J. M. Gedye.