Summary: The Palaearctic Bombus ruderatus (in 1982/1983) and Bombus terrestris (1998) have both been introduced into South America (Chile) for pollination purposes. We here report on the results of sampling campaigns in 2004, and 2010-2012 showing that both species have established and massively expanded their range. Bombus terrestris, in particular, has spread by some 200 km year-1 and had reached the Atlantic coast in Argentina by the end of 2011. Both species, and especially B. terrestris, are infected by protozoan parasites that seem to spread along with the imported hosts and spillover to native species. Genetic analyses by polymorphic microsatellite loci suggest that the host population of B. terrestris is genetically diverse, as expected from a large invading founder population, and structured through isolation by distance. Genetically, the populations of the trypanosomatid parasite, Crithidia bombi, sampled in 2004 are less diverse, and distinct from the ones sampled later. Current C. bombi populations are highly heterozygous and also structured through isolation by distance correlating with the genetic distances of B. terrestris, suggesting the latter's expansion to be a main structuring factor for the parasite. Remarkably, wherever B. terrestris spreads, the native Bombus dahlbomii disappears although the reasons remain unclear. Our ecological and genetic data suggest a major invasion event that is currently unfolding in southern South America with disastrous consequences for the native bumblebee species. © 2013 British Ecological Society.

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The invasion of southern South America by imported bumblebees and associated parasites

Despite rising global concerns over the potential impacts of non-native bumble bee (Bombus spp) introductions on native species, large-scale and long-term assessments of the consequences of such introductions are lacking. Bombus ruderatus and Bombus terrestris were sequentially introduced into Chile and later entered Argentina's Patagonian region. A large-scale survey in Patagonia reveals that, in 5 years post-arrival, the highly invasive B terrestris has become the most abundant and widespread Bombus species, and its southward spread is concurrent with the geographic retraction of the only native species, Bombus dahlbomii. Furthermore, a 20-year survey of pollinators of the endemic herb Alstroemeria aurea in northern Patagonia indicates that B ruderatus and B terrestris have replaced B dahlbomii, formerly the most abundant pollinator. Although the decline's underlying mechanisms remain unknown, the potential roles of exploitative competition and pathogen co-introduction cannot be ruled out. Given that in...

Rapid ecological replacement of a native bumble bee by invasive species.

Since the rise of agriculture, human populations have domesticated plant and animal species to fulfil their needs. With modern agriculture, a limited number of these species has been massively produced over large areas at high local densities. Like invasive species, these Massively Introduced Managed Species (MIMS) integrate local communities and can trigger cascading effects on the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Here, we focus on plant and insect MIMS in the context of plant–pollinator systems. Several crop species such as mass flowering crops (e.g. Brassica napus) and domesticated pollinating insects (e.g. Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris) have been increasingly introduced worldwide and their impact on natural communities is addressed by an increasing number of scientific studies. First, we review the impacts of major insect and plant MIMS on natural comm- unities by identifying how they affect other species through competition (direct and apparent competition) or facilitation (attraction, spillover). Second, we show how MIMS can alter the structure of plant–pollinator networks. We specifically analysed the position of A. mellifera from 63 published plant–pollinator webs to illustrate that MIMS can occupy a central position in the networks, leading to functional consequences. Finally, we present the features of MIMS in sensitive environments ranging from oceanic islands to protected areas, as a basis to discuss the impacts of MIMS in urban context and agrosystems. Through the case study of MIMS in plant–pollinator interactions, we thus provide here a first perspective of the role of MIMS in the functioning of ecosystems.

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Massively Introduced Managed Species and Their Consequences for Plant–Pollinator Interactions

The worldwide trade in bumblebees can lead to the spread of diseases, which in turn has been claimed as a factor in bumblebee decline. Populations of the introduced Bombus terrestris, which invaded NW Patagonia, Argentina, in 2006, harbor the highly pathogenic protozoan Apicystis bombi. We asked whether A. bombi had been co-introduced with B. terrestris, and if so, whether spillover occurred to the two resident bumblebee species in the region: the introduced European Bombus ruderatus and the native Bombus
 dahlbomii. We searched for A. bombi by means of PCR in samples of B. ruderatus and B. dahlbomii collected before and after the invasion of B. terrestris and in samples of the latter. We found no A. bombi in samples of B. ruderatus and B. dahlbomii collected before B. terrestris invasion, whereas post invasion, A. bombi was present in all 3 species. The identity of the parasite was established by sequencing the 18S region, which was identical for the three bumblebee species and also matched the European sequence, confirming it to be A. bombi. This is the first report of A. bombi in B. ruderatus and B. dahlbomii. Moreover, our results suggest that Patagonia had been free of A. bombi until this parasite was co-introduced with B. terrestris, and spilled over in situ to these two previously resident species. Finally, our findings provide indirect circumstantial evidence of a potential link between the population collapse and geographic retraction of B. dahlbomii and the introduction of this novel parasite.

Alien parasite hitchhikes to Patagonia on invasive bumblebee

Though they are relatively understudied, non-native bees are ubiquitous and have enormous potential economic and environmental impacts. These impacts may be positive or negative, and are often unquantified. In this manuscript, I review literature on the known distribution and environmental and economic impacts of 80 species of introduced bees. The potential negative impacts of non-native bees include competition with native bees for nesting sites or floral resources, pollination of invasive weeds, co-invasion with pathogens and parasites, genetic introgression, damage to buildings, affecting the pollination of native plant species, and changing the structure of native pollination networks. The potential positive impacts of non-native bees include agricultural pollination, availability for scientific research, rescue of native species, and resilience to human-mediated disturbance and climate change. Most non-native bee species are accidentally introduced and nest in stems, twigs, and cavities in wood. In terms of number of species, the best represented families are Megachilidae and Apidae, and the best represented genus is Megachile. The best studied genera are Apis and Bombus, and most of the species in these genera were deliberately introduced for agricultural pollination. Thus, we know little about the majority of non-native bees, accidentally introduced or spreading beyond their native ranges.

Positive and Negative Impacts of Non-Native Bee Species around the World

SummaryIn the present work, we update floral associations and geographical distribution for four species of Bombus present in Chile, two native (B. dahlbomii and B. funebris) and two introduced species (B. terrestris and B. ruderatus). We also examine possible associations among native or introduced bees with native or introduced plant species. We found a significant non-random plant association among non-native bumble bee species and non-native plant species. Because of the distributional overlap between B. dahlbomii with the two non-native bee species, it is likely that B. dahlbomii interacts with these non-native bees.

Geographic distribution and associated flora of native and introduced bumble bees (Bombus spp.) in Chile

The large carpenter bee Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) augusti Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1841, is here recorded for the first time in Chile.  This new record increases to four the number of carpenter bees known for the country.  Host plant associations for X. augusti in Chile are provided.  A key to the species of Xylocopa Latreille in Chile as well as comments on the presence of X. (N.) bruesi Cockerell in the country are also presented.

https://journals.ku.edu/index.php/melittology/article/download/4480/4207

The large carpenter bee Xylocopa augusti (Hymenoptera: Apidae): New record for Chile

Se reporta la presencia de Xylocopa splendidula para Santiago, Chile. En Marzo de 2007, hembras fueron observadas nidificando en Acacia dealbata Link y entre diciembre 2007 y febrero 2008 fueron observadas forrajeando sobre Parkinsonia apiculataL. Este es el primer registro de la especie para la zona mediterranea de Chile.

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First record of xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) in the mediterranean zone of chile

We report for the first time in Chile the presence of the European mite Kuzinia laevis. We obtained specimens of the mite from a hibernating queen bee of Bombus terrestris in the city of Santiago, Metropolitan Region. Implications of the species introduction are discussed.

http://www.bbchile.com/pdfs/2011/5/05-Allendes-and-Montalva-2011-5.pdf

First record of the mite kuzinia laevis (dujardin, 1849) (acarina: acaridae) in chile

/pdf/first-record-of-xylocopa-schonnherria-splendidula-lepeletier-34cfqk11a0.pdf

First record of xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) in the mediterranean zone of chile primer registro de xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) para la zona mediterránea de chile

José Montalva

Papers

Geographic distribution and associated flora of native and introduced bumble bees (Bombus spp.) in Chile

The large carpenter bee Xylocopa augusti (Hymenoptera: Apidae): New record for Chile

First record of xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) in the mediterranean zone of chile

First record of the mite kuzinia laevis (dujardin, 1849) (acarina: acaridae) in chile

First record of xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) in the mediterranean zone of chile primer registro de xylocopa (schonnherria) splendidula lepeletier 1841 (hymenoptera: apidae: xylocopini) para la zona mediterránea de chile