Summary
The larvae of Megachile pacifica, the leafcutter bee, develop within a cell constructed of pieces of leaf by the adult female which also provides a plug of nectar and pollen, the sole source of nutrient for the larvae. In this study, eggs (1 per cell) hatched in 2–3 days and larvae were fully grown after a further 9 days at 28° C.
The mean larval dry weight (dw) when fully grown (P L ) was 18.89 mg. Larvae ate 45.99 mg (dw) (C) of their food leaving 0.90 mg (dw) unconsumed. The faeces (FU) weighed an average of 5.62 mg (dw) and their cocoon weighed 2.68 mg (dw) (P E ). The components of their energy budget (C=(P L +P E )+R+FU) were C=1079.4 J, P L =569.1 J, P E =62.25 J, R (metabolic energy measured with a Gilson respirometer)=218.3 J and FU=134.4 J. R calculated by difference was 313.6 J.
Full grown larvae contained 1.17 mg of nitrogen (N). They egested 0.19 mg N and incorporated 0.16 mg N in the cocoons. They ingested 1.51 mg N (measured) — the calculated consumption of nitrogen (by difference) was 1.52 mg.
The ecological efficiencies showed that these larvae are among the most efficient invertebrate converters of energy and nitrogen yet recorded. The assimilation efficiencies (A·C -1) were 87.5% (energy), 87.2% (N), the net ecological efficiencies (P·A -1) were 66.8% (energy) and 100% (N) and the gross ecological efficiencies (P·C -1) were 58.5% (energy) and 87.6% (N). the production to respiration ratio (x100) was 201.5% using calculated R.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey, C.G., Reigert, P.W.: Energy dynamics of Encoptolophus sordidus costalis (Scudder) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in a grassland ecosystem. Can. J. Zool. 51, 91–100 (1973)
Brody, S.: Bioenergetics and growth. New York: Reinhold 1945
Eves, J.D., Johansen, C.A.: Population dynamics of larvae of alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, in eastern Washington. Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Technical Bulletin 78, 12 pp. (1974)
Heinrich, B.: Energetics of pollination. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 6, 139–170 (1975)
Hobbs, G.A.: Domestication of alfalfa leafcutter bees. Canada Department of Agriculture Publication 1313, 19 pp. (1967)
Holter, P.: Energy budget of a natural population of Aphodius rufipes larvae (Scarabaeidae). Oikos 26, 177–186 (1975)
Humphreys, W.F.: Variables influencing laboratory energy budgets of Geolycosa godeffroyi (Araneae). Oikos 28, 225–233 (1977)
Iverson, T.M.: Ingestion and growth in Sericostoma personatum (Trichoptera) in relation to the nitrogen content of ingested leaves. Oikos 25, 278–282 (1974)
Kajak, A.: Productivity of some populations of web spiders. In: Secondary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems (K. Petrusewiez, ed.), pp. 807–820. Warsaw: Panstowe Wydawnictwo Naykowe 1967
Klostermeyer, E.C., Mech, S.J., Rasmussen, W.B.: Sex and weight of Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) progeny associated with provision weights. Jl. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 46, 536–548 (1973)
McNeill, S.: The dynamics of a population of Leptoterna dolabrata (Heteroptera: Miridae) in relation to its food resources. J. Anim. Ecol. 42, 495–507 (1973)
Petrusewiez, K., Macfadyen, A.: Productivity of terrestrial animals principles and methods. Oxford: Blackwell's 1970
Saito, S.: Energetics of isopod populations in a forest of central Japan. Res. Popul. Ecol. 11, 229–258 (1969)
Schroeder, L.A.: Energy, matter and nitrogen utilization by the larvae of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus. Oikos 27, 259–264 (1976)
Slanskey, F., Feeny, P.: Stabilization of the rate of nitrogen accumulation by larvae of the cabbage butterfly on wild and cultivated food plants. Ecol. Monog 47, 209–228 (1977)
Van Hook, R.I., Dodson, G.J.: Food energy budget for the yellow-poplar weevil, Odontopus calceatus (Say.). Ecology 55, 205–207 (1974)
Waldbauer, G.P.: The consumption and utilization of food by insects. In: Advances in insects physiology (J.W.L. Beament, J.E., Treherne, V.B. Wigglesworth, eds.), pp. 229–288. London-New York: Academic Press 1968
White, E.G.: Energetics and consumption rates of alpine grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in New Zealand. Oecologia (Berl.) 33, 17–44 (1978)
Wightman, J.A.: A comparison of respirometry techniques for terrestrial invertebrates with a discussion of the application of the results to energetics studies. N.Z. J. Zool. 4, 453–469 (1977)
Wightman, J.A.: The ecology of Callosobruchus analis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): Morphometrics and energetics of the immature stages. J. Anim. Ecol. 47, 117–129 (1978)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wightman, J.A., Rogers, V.M. Growth, energy and nitrogen budgets and efficiencies of the growing larvae of Megachile pacifica (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Oecologia 36, 245–257 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349813
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349813