Aglaoapis tridentata (Nylander, 1848)

Aglaoapis tridentata (Nylander, 1848) View in CoL

Figs 2 View Fig , 9 View Fig A-B, 15 D

SHORT DESCRIPTION: This species resembles a large (7-11 mm) Coelioxys species. It has a spine on the middle of the metanotum however, in addition to the spines on the sides. The abdomen is not dented like Coelioxys species. This is the only species from the genus that occurs in Belgium.

HOST SPECIES: Hoplitis anthocopoides (Schenck, 1853) , H. ravouxi (Pérez, 1902) , Megachile parietina (Geoffroy, 1785) , possibly also H. adunca (Panzer, 1798) and M. argentata (Fabricius, 1775) ( WESTRICH, 2018) . Both locations on which the species has been found in Belgium have been searched thoroughly by multiple observers. Only the last-mentioned host species has been found on both locations and that in large numbers. We therefore think that M. argentata is the most likely host species at the two locations in Belgium. In Sweden, the species seems to be associated with either Trachusa byssina (Panzer, 1798) (mainland) or Megachile pyrenaea (Pérez, 1890) (Öland) . It is thought that A. tridentata is more tightly bound to a particular nesting substrate than a particular host, and opportunistically parasitizes whichever host is present in its preferred microhabitat (F. Rhebergen, pers. comm., IV.2024).

DISTRIBUTION IN EUROPE: Widely distributed in Europe, from Spain to Ukraine and from Finland to southern Italy. Also reported from Iran and Kyrgyzstan ( SCHEUCHL & WILLNER, 2016). There are no records from the Netherlands ( REEMER, 2018, www.waarneming.nl) and the United Kingdom ( ELSE & EDWARDS, 2018), but it has been recorded in France, Germany ( SCHEUCHL & WILLNER, 2016) and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg ( HERRERA MESÍAS & WEIGAND, 2021).

EU RED LIST STATUS: Least concern (LC) ( NIETO et al., 2014).

ORIGIN OF RECORDS:

- LUXEMBOURG PROVINCE. Habay ; 1♀ 1♂ ; 15.vi.2020; leg. B. Legrain; det. N. Vereecken, P. Vanormelingen, J. Devalez. 1♀ 1♂; 19.vi.2020; leg./det. B. Legrain. 1♀; 21.vi.2020; leg./det. K. Geeraerts. 2♀♀ 1♂; 23.vi.2020; leg./det. K. Schoonvaere, M. Wielandts, J. D’Haeseleer, W. Vertommen. 1♀; 5.viii.2021; leg./det. J.S. Rousseau-Piot - Fig. 9 View Fig A-B. 1♀ 1♂ ; 11.vi.2022; leg./det. D. De Grave. 1♀; 7.vii.2023; leg./det. M. Wielandts. Attert; 1♀; 23.vii.2021; leg./det. W. Vertommen. 1♀; 11.vi.2022; leg./det. D. De Grave. Meix-devant-Virton; 1♀; 12.vii.2022; leg./det. H. Baltus.

COMMENTS:

- The species was most often found on Jasione montana ( Campanulaceae ), one time on Thymus pulegioides ( Lamiaceae ) and one time on Centaurea jacea ( Asteraceae ).