Biology and Nesting Plant Preference of Small Carpenter Bees Ceratina spp. and Pithitis smaragdula (F.) (Anthophoridae)

Abstract

During January 1987, at Kampangsan Campus, Kasetsart University Nakornpratom, small carpenter bees, Ceratina spp. were observed to choose the twigs prepared for nesting site in the following order : mulberry (Morus indica L.) 2.7%, sesbania (Sesbania javanica Mg.) 2.2%, eupatorium (Eupatorium odoratum L.) 2.4% and lantana (Lantana camara L.) 0.8%; and Pithitis smaragdula choosed mulberry 1.4%, sesbania 10%, eupatorium 0.5% and lantana 0.3% However, in May1988, Ceratina spp. was noticed to prefer mulberry 6.9% and eupatorium 2.9% while P. smaragdula choose mulberry 3.7% and eupatorium 2.0%. No size preference in length (15 or 30 cm) on diameter of twig pith (3.0-3.9 or 4.0-4.9 mm) were found between the 2 species in mulberry, yet they preferred eupatorium of 30 cm. at the longest with width of 3.0-3.9 mm. Egg, larval and pupal stages of C. cognata were 1-3, 7-11, and 12-15 days respectively while those of P. smaragdula were 2-3, 10-15 and 14-16 days respectively.