Xylocopa frontalis explained

Xylocopa frontalis, also known by its common name ridge-browed carpenter, is a species of carpenter bee (genus Xylocopa).

Description

X. frontalis is part of a group of solitary bees called carpenter bees. X. frontalis is vital in the pollination of wild and cultivated large flowering plants. X. fontalis choose their nesting places very carefully. A study was done to see how X. fontalis chose their nesting sites. They found that the nesting substrates and nesting sites exhibited a clumped spatial distribution. X. fontalis had a preferred substrate and built their nests primarily on those substrates. This shows that they carefully pick out their nesting sites rather than nesting where available.[1]

Ecology

X. frontalis, together with Xylocopa grisescens are the main pollinators for Passiflora edulis, a tropical crop with significant economic value.

Notes and References

  1. Silva . Fabiana O. Da . Viana . Blandina F. . Oct 2002 . Distribuição de Ninhos de Abelhas Xylocopa (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em uma Área de Dunas Litorâneas . Neotropical Entomology . pt . 31 . 661–664 . 10.1590/S1519-566X2002000400025 . 1519-566X. free .