Foraging behavior and pollination of carpenter bees Xylocopa spp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Abstract

Large carpenter bees (the genus Xylocopa), as an important group of bees (Apidae), are common visitors to flowering plants in tropics and subtropics. Their foraging behavior is characterized by long season of activity, high diversity of foraging plants, tolerance of high temperatures, activity under low illumination levels, and buzz pollination. These traits make them to be attractive pollinators for agricultural pollination in hot climates, especially in greenhouses, night-blooming plants, and some Solanum. In recent years, large carpenter bees have been demonstrated have efficient pollination service in blueberries, passion flower, runner bean, greenhouse tomatoes and greenhouse melons in foreign countries. However, evidence for their importance and effectiveness as crop pollinators is lacking for most plant species in China. This article reviewed the research progress on foraging behavior and pollination of Xylocopa, with the aim to provide a theoretical basis for the conservation management and utilization of large carpenter bees.