Survey and Taxonomical Studies on Cleptoparasitic Bees from Genus Coelioxys (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) of Egypt

This group includes the genus Coelioxys, commonly known as cuckoo bees, which exhibit interesting parasitic behaviors. Coelioxys larvae rely on food stolen from leaf-cutter bees, particularly Megachile latreille larvae. Notably, the emergence of the Coelioxys egg occurs before the emergence of the Megachile egg, allowing the young larvae to use their powerful mandibles to detach the Megachile egg, thus ensuring their survival. The genus Coelioxys comprises approximately 500 species, divided into 15 genera worldwide. These bees exhibit a parasitic lifestyle, laying their eggs inside the nests of other wild bees, often of the same or closely related genus, especially Megachile. Therefore, a comprehensive inventory was necessary to identify the species present in Egypt. This was accomplished as follows: A comprehensive inventory and review of the genus Coelioxys latreillei, which belongs to the family Megachilidae, subfamily Apoidea, and order Hymenoptera, was conducted in Egypt. This study is based on field specimens collected in Egypt between 2021 and 2024, and was first described in 1809. The identified species were included in reference insect collections at universities and scientific research institutions. These species were described, and their morphological and taxonomic characteristics were explained. A taxonomic key was developed to distinguish between males and females recorded in Egypt. To date, nine species and one subspecies have been documented in Egypt: Coelioxys afra, Coelioxys conoidea, Coelioxys echinatus, Coelioxys elegantula, Coelioxys erythrurus, Coelioxys haemorrhoa, Coelioxys haemorrhoa rhodacantha, Coelioxys obtusus, Coelioxys rufispina, and one subspecies, Coelioxys decipiens.