MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF MEGACHILE BICOLOR (FABRICIUS, 1781) (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE) - A NEW RECORD FOR ANDHRA PRADESH AND TELANGANA

Abstract

This study records the subgenus Amegachile Friese, 1909 with species Megachile bicolor (Fabricius, 1781) for the first time from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India, expanding its known distribution in India. Identification of the species was done based on detailed morphological examination and further confirmed with the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A detailed morphological description, illustrations, distribution and floral host associations are provided.