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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282847
Title: Dung pat nesting by the solitary bee, Osmia (Acanthosmiodes) integra (Megachilidae: Apiformes).

Author
item Cane, James

Submitted to: Journal of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/10/2012
Publication Date: 10/1/2012
Citation: Cane, J.H. 2012. Dung pat nesting by the solitary bee, Osmia (Acanthosmiodes) integra (Megachilidae: Apiformes). Journal of Kansas Entomological Society. 85(3): 262-4.

Interpretive Summary: Solitary bees nest in a diversity of soil and vegetative substrates. A new and novel substrate is reported here, dried cattle dung. Two species of Osmia bees were found nesting in weathered cattle dung in Wyoming. Nests of one species that otherwise nests shallowly in soil were excavated, described, and found typical of its species. Dung nesting offers thermal and digging advantages over soil and can be expected to be more widespread in arid areas than is currently known.

Technical Abstract: Solitary bees nest in a diversity of substrates, typically soil, but also wood, stems and twigs. A new and novel substrate is reported here, dried cattle dung. Two species of Osmia bees were found nesting in dung in Wyoming. One species, O. integra, otherwise nests shallowly in soil. Nests were excavated, described, and found typical of species in its subgenus. Dung nesting offers thermal and digging advantages over soil and can be expected to be more widespread in arid areas than is currently known.