Le Van Tho1,2, Pham Phong Huy1,3*, Dang Van Son2, Pham Thanh Luu4, Miyanaga R.5 2026. First notes on the nesting biology of Xylocopa minor Maidl, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.35. No.1: 81–91 [in English].
1 Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
2 Institute of Life Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam, 85 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Xuan Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
3 Institute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
4 Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Vietnam, 19 Nguyen Huu Tho Street, Tan Hung, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
5 Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Japan, Matsue, Shimane 690–8504, Japan.
*Corresponding author
Van Tho Le: tho1010@gmail.com ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9314-5177
Phong Huy Pham: phong.wasp@gmail.com ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5350-3865
Van Son Dang: dvsonitb@gmail.com ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8681-4141
Thanh Luu Pham: phamthanhluu@tdtu.edu.vn ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3276-1114
Ryoichi Miyanaga: miyanaga@life.shimane-u.ac.jp ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-3218
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.35.1.04
ABSTRACT. This study explores the nesting behaviour and plant preferences of the large carpenter bee Xylocopa minor Maidl, 1912 in Southeast Vietnam. The species primarily nested in dead wood branches of plant species, such as Ficus benjamina L., Ficus elastic Roxb. ex Hornem., Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., and Annona squamosal L. The number of nests varied from 1 to 5 per branch and the nests were branched. Xylocopa minor excavated a round nest entrance on the underside of branches, usually at the middle of a nest, and made burrows in two opposite directions along the branch. There were from 2 to 11 cells per nest. Nest cells were separated by partitions made of the sawdust mixed with a glue. Most nests were maintained by 1–3 adult X. minor females. The only blister beetle, Synhoria sp. (Coleoptera: Meloidae), was recorded as a nest parasite of X. minor. The bee visited 33 flowering plant species from 31 genera and 16 families. The ecological significance of X. minor as an important pollinator of several plants, especially mangrove ones, is highlighted.
KEY WORDS: floral resources, large carpenter bee, nest architecture, Vietnam, Xylocopa minor.