G. it. Ent., 6 (33): 235-237
April 30, 1993
Some notes on native bees
(Hymenoptera: Megachilidae: Chalicodoma)
visiting the flowers of Calytrix fraseri A. Cunn. (Myrtaceae)
in Western Australia
by
TREVOR J. HAWKESWOOD
Abstract - Some brief observations are provided on two species of Australian native bees (Chalicodoma spp., Megachilidae) visiting the open flowers of Calytrix fraseri A. Cunn. (Myrtaceae) in Western Australia during 1980. These bees are apparently the main vectors of pollination of this plant in the area studied. However, the flowers of C. fraseri possess more features of typically butterfly-pollinated blossoms (psycophilous flowers) than bee-pollinated blossoms (melittophilous flowers). Although there is only one published record of a butterfly feeding from the flowers of C. fraseri, it would appear likely that bees are more important pollen vectors of this plant in the drier marginal areas of Western Australia.
