Fateryga A.V.1, Ivanov S.P.2, Filatov M.A.3 2011. Gynandromorphs of Megachile picicornis (Morawitz, 1877) and M. deceptoria (Peréz, 1890) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and their evolutionary interpretation // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.20. No.3: 261–264 [in English].
1 Nikitskiy Botanical Garden – National Scientific Center, Nikita, Yalta 98648, Ukraine. E-mail: fater_84@list.ru
2 V.I. Vernadskiy Taurida National University, 4 Academician Vernadskiy Avenue, Simferopol 95007, Ukraine. E-mail: spi2006@list.ru
3 V.V. Dokuchaev Kharkov National Agrarian University, P.O. Communist-1, bdg. 4, KhNAU Campus, Kharkov Province 62483, Ukraine. E-mail: filatovhnau@gmail.com
Key words: bees, Megachilidae, Megachile, gynandromorphs, evolution of cleptoparasitism.
Abstract. Seven gynandromorphic specimens of Megachile picicornis and M. deceptoria collected in the Crimea are described. All specimens of both species have similar morphology, i.e. the male-like head (except for the 12-segmented antennae) and legs as well as the female-like metasoma that totally lacks scopa. Arguments in favor of the hypothesis that ontogenetic anomalies of that kind could lead to the origin of cleptoparasitic species of bees from the nest-building ones are given.