Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee
Lithurgus chrysurus
This record describes Lithurgus chrysurus (species). Recorded family: Megachilidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinctive red color of the female. Tridentate mandible with the middle tooth being longest. Non-native. First discovered in this country in Phillipsburg, Warren County, NJ in 1978. The second time this species was recorded in the United States was on July 7, 2007 at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Lehigh Gap, Lehigh County, PA. This discovery led to a regional search for this destructive species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Trigonaloidea
- Family
- Megachilidae (Leafcutter, Mason, and Resin Bees, and allies)
- Subfamily
- Lithurginae
- Genus
- Lithurgus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
native to the Mediterranean, adventive in NA (NJ-PA) ( map )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Feed mostly on Centaurea pollen (a non-native plant, introduced from Europe, like the bee itself). Adults drink nectar of a variety of sources. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images.
Life History
Univoltine (one generation per year) and over-winter as prepupae inside cocoons. Detailed description of larval development and nesting biology here .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author: Fonscolombe 1834
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Lithurgus chrysurus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Corey Husic , v belov , hg
Frequently Asked Questions About Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee
What is Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee?
Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee (Lithurgus chrysurus) is a species in the family Megachilidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee?
Distinctive red color of the female. Tridentate mandible with the middle tooth being longest.
Where is Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee found?
Range: native to the Mediterranean, adventive in NA (NJ-PA) ( map )
What does Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee eat?
The diet of the Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee includes Feed mostly on Centaurea pollen (a non-native plant, introduced from Europe, like the bee itself). Adults drink nectar of a variety of sources. The Hosts section on its Discover Life species page lists known floral associations based on specimen records and images..
What is the life cycle of a Mediterranean Wood-boring Bee?
Univoltine (one generation per year) and over-winter as prepupae inside cocoons. Detailed description of larval development and nesting biology here .