Megachile sculpturalis (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae): A Valuable Study Organism for Invasive Pollinators and the Role of Beekeepers in Ongoing Monitoring Programs

Background Bees are among the most important pollinators (Klein et al., 2007; Ollerton et al., 2011) with an estimated global monetary value of ecosystem services of minimum US$195 billion per year (Porto et al., 2020). Some bee species live outside their native range after they were either deliberately or accidentally introduced to new environments. Such non-native bees are not necessarily invasive. They might offer positive services to their new environment e.g., provide rescue for native plants where their actual pollinator became extinct (Russo, 2016; Schlaepfer et al., 2011). However, in rare cases they might have negative impacts on the native fauna and flora and are considered as invasive species (Catford et al., 2009; Colautti & Richardson, 2009). Invasive bees are potential competitors of native bees for nesting sites and floral resources and may act as suitable pollinators for invasive plants (Groves, 2006). Bees becoming invasive may alter the seed set of native plants by decreased or increased flower visitations or influence local pollination networks. Moreover, invasive species are possible vectors of newly introduced parasites and pathogens (Aizen et al., 2014; Goulson, 2003; Groves, 2006). Taking all this into consideration it is evident that non-native species need to be studied and monitored closely.