DIPTERA, CONOPIDAE PARASITES OF BEES IN SOUTHERN REGIONS OF THEIR BREEDING

The paper shows that Megachile rotundata F. (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Megachilidae) imported from Kanada to the USSR has in the Palearctics fauna considerably more parasites (Diptera, Conopidae) than in the Nearctics fauna. The growing population of conopids and the death of leaf-cutting bee in the second half of the summer resulting from it is due to the fact that the specimens with a prolonged diapause emerge. The damage is aggravated due to the phoretic relationship with these flies of other bee antagonists, i.e. Coleoptera, Meloidae. A conclusion is made that the conopids in the USSR are much more dangerous for a leaf-cutting bee than in the USA or Canada and thus require a much more exacting control system.