Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) mordax F. Smith

Genaro, Julio A. & Franz, Nico M., 2008, The bees of Greater Puerto Rico (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), Insecta Mundi 2008 (40), pp. 1-24 : 14

Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) mordax F. Smith ( Figs. 28 and 29 )

Xylocopa mordax F. Smith, 1874b: 294 . Holotype female in BMNH.

GD: British Virgin Islands (Guana Island), Hispaniola, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, and Puerto Rico (including key Caja de Muerto and Mona Island) ( Hurd 1978).

This species has been misidentified throughout the Caribbean as either X. brasilianorum (Linnaeus, 1767) or, less frequently, as X. morio ( Fabricius, 1793) . Both misidentifications refer to Brazilian species not present in the West Indies ( Hurd 1978). Moure (2003) provided taxonomic notes on X. mordax . The common name of this species in Puerto Rico is “cigarrón” (large cigar). Martorell (1976) and O’Farril- Nieves and Medina-Gaud (2007) mention that this species drills into dry branches and tree trunks. Jackson and Woodbury (1976) and Jackson (1986) studied the nectar and pollen-gathering activities and nesting sites of X. mordax . Rivera-Marchand and Ackerman (2006) determined that this species was the only effective pollinator of the cactus Pilosocereus royenii (L.) Byles and Rowley.

Figures

Figure 16-29. Apidae. 16) Anthophora tricolor (Fabr.). 17) Centris smithii Cresson. 18) C. decolorata Lepeletier. 19) C. lanipes (Fabr.). 20) C. haemorrhoidalis (Fabr.). 21) Exomalopsis analis Spinola. 22) Exomalopsis bahamica Timberlake. 23) Melissodes trifasciata Cresson. 24) Nomada pilipes (Cresson). 25) N. krugii Cresson. 26) Xeromelecta tibialis (Fabr.). 27) Mesoplia rufipes (Perty). 28-29) Xylocopa mordax F. Smith.