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Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is an invasive solitary bee that is rapidly spreading all over Europe. The present study aims to update the distribution of this species in Italy. The research led to the collection of 177 records, obtained through bibliographic research and data-mining from websites, blogs and social networks. We here present the first record of M. sculpturalis on a Mediterranean island and discuss its possible effect on the native ecosystem. Given the particular discovery of M. sculpturalis on Elba Island (Tuscany), we suggest possible monitoring, containment and possible eradication measures of the species.

Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith 1853 County records: Cheboygan, Ingham, Jackson, Kent, Monroe, Oakland, Osceola, Washtenaw, Wayne. Notes. Megachile scultupuralis, a distinctive exotic species of East Asian origin, has recently spread across the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country (Hinojosa-Díaz 2008; Magnum & Brooks 1997). It was first recorded from Michigan in 2008 from Wayne and Cheboygan Counties in the southeast and north of the LP, respectively (O’Brien & Craves 2008). The species, known to have been present in the state from at least 2006 (see below; the first Illinois specimen was also collected that year, see Tonietto & Ascher 2009), is active in midsummer. It is known to nest in active Xylocopa virginica burrows in dead wood (Laport & Minckley 2012; Roulston & Malfi 2012) and has been observed in Michigan removing nesting materials of other Megachile species from trap nests (JG pers. obs.). Material examined. Ingham Co.: East Lansing, Sep. 2006, P. Giordano (1 ♀ MSUC); East Lansing, MSU, N42.72 W84.473, 18 Jul. 2014 (2 ♂), 21 Aug. 2013 (1 ♀) (JBWM); East Lansing, MSU, Natural Science Bldg., 13 Jul. 2011, Stphynolobium japonicum, G. Parsons (3 ♀ 11 ♂ MSUC); East Lansing, MSU, Natural Science Bldg., 20 Aug. 2009, Sophora japonica, G. Parsons (16 ♀ MSUC); East Lansing, MSU, Radiology Bldg. N42717 W84.467, 20 Jul. 2014, J. Gibbs (1 ♀ JBWM); Lansing area, Nielsen residence, T4N R2W S7, 2 Jul.2006, M.C. Nielsen (1 ♀ MSUC); Lansing, Saginaw /MLK blvd., stem nest side of house, 18 Aug. 2008, R. Isaacs (2 ♀ MSUC); Kent Co.: (unknown locality) 3 Jul. 2012, M. Vanderwerp (1? MVWC); Oakland Co.: 26 Jul. 2014, M. Vanderwerp (MVWC); Osceola Co.: Leroy, 1.5 km SW, N44.0311 W85.4729, 26 Jun. 2015, J. Gibbs (1 ♀ JBWM); Shiawassee Co.: North of Perry (C. Sheffield and J. Gibbs pers. obs. 2006)., Published as part of Gibbs, Jason, Ascher, John S., Rightmyer, Molly G. & Isaacs, Rufus, 2017, The bees of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with notes on distribution, taxonomy, pollination, and natural history, pp. 1-160 in Zootaxa 4352 (1) on page 106, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4352.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1063854, {"references":["Hinojosa-Diaz, I. (2008) The giant resin bee making its way west: First record in Kansas (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). ZooKeys, 1, 67 - 71. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 1.17","Magnum, W. A. & Brooks, R. W. (1997) A survey of the North American range of Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis, an adventive species in North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 70, 146 - 148.","O'Brien, M. F. & Craves, J. (2008) Megachile sculpturalis Smith - a new bee for Michigan (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society, 53, 4.","Tonietto, R. K. & Ascher, J. S. (2009) Occurrence of the Old World bee species Hylaeus hyalinatus, Anthidium manicatum, A. oblongatum, and Megachile sculpturalis, and the native species Coelioxys banksi, Lasioglossum michiganense, and L. zophops. The Great Lakes Entomologist, 41, 200 - 203.","Laport, R. G. & Minckley, R. L. (2012) Occupation of active Xylocopa virginica nests by the recently invasive Megachile sculpturalis in Upstate New York. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 85, 384 - 386. https: // doi. org / 10.2317 / 0022 - 8567 - 85.4.384","Roulston, T. H. & Malfi, R. L. (2012) Aggressive eviction of the eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica (Linnaeus )) from its nest by the giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis Smith). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 85, 387 - 388. https: // doi. org / 10.2317 / 0022 - 8567 - 85.4.387"]}

Background and aims – Apios priceana is a rare flowering plant that can only be found in parts of the Southeastern United States. Little is known about the reproductive biology of this plant and only a few insect flower visitors have been previously documented. The aim of this study was to further document the insect flower visitors of A. priceana in North Alabama.Methods – Cameras and observers recorded flower visitors during the 2014 blooming season of a large North Alabama population of A. priceana.Key results – Although fifteen different species of insects were documented on flowers of A. priceana, most performed a single or very few visits. Bumble bees ( Bombus spp.), two species of Megachilidae ( Megachile sculpturalis and Megachile campanulae ), and the hummingbird clearwing ( Hemaris thysbe ) were the most common visitors. Interestingly, the giant resin bee, M. sculpturalis, is considered to be an invasive species but in this case may be pollinating a native and Federally threatened plant.Conclusion – Although A. priceana flowers are visited by numerous insects, Bombus spp. and, surprisingly, an invasive species ( Megachile sculpturalis ) are probably the most important pollinators of this plant.

Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith, the giant resin bee, is an adventive species in the United States. First established in the United States during the early 1990s, records currently exist from most states east of the Mississippi River along with Iowa and Kansas. New distributional records are presented for Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith, an introduced bee. Additional records presented here expand the known distribution southwest through Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. An updated host plant list containing new records is also presented, expanding the number of known floral associations.

Megachile (Callomegachile) sculpturalis Smith Figure 1 Material Female, Kansas: Douglas County, within Lawrence city limits (adjacent to main University campus), 28 June 2008, I.A. Hinojosa-D��az (net captured). Deposited in the Snow Entomological Collection, Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, Kansas, USA. Comments The specimen was not freshly emerged, exhibiting relatively worn wings along their apices. Th is indicates that the female was old and had been quite active for some time. Th is wing wear suggests that either the female had newly dispersed into the area from some distance or, more likely, was part of a newly established population (since no M. sculpturalis have been found in previous summers, and such active and robust bees would have otherwise been noticed) and had spent considerable time seeking new, suitable nesting sites and nest materials., Published as part of Hinojosa-D��az, Ismael, 2008, The giant resin bee making its way west: First record in Kansas (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), pp. 67-71 in ZooKeys 1 (1) on pages 68-69, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1.17, http://zenodo.org/record/576392

The invasive giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis Smith) was first discovered in North America in 1994. A 2005 study provided the first predictive ecological niche model for any bee species and concluded that M. sculpturalis, then confined to the eastern United States, would eventually spread as far south as southern Florida, as far north as southern Ontario and Nova Scotia, and as far west as South Dakota, western Kansas, and northwestern Texas. Herein I provide the first record of M. sculpturalis from northeastern Kansas, documenting that the species has indeed continued its westward expansion in North America and the new available records entirely correspond to the earlier predictions.