Attraction to old nest cues during nest selection by the solitary bee Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) | Atracción a señales procedentes del nido antiguo durante la selección del nido por parte de la abeja solitaria Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
2011
Stanley, Cory A | Pitts-Singer, Theresa L.
The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata F. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), is an important pollinator for the commercial production of alfalfa seed. Poor nest establishment is, however, an ongoing problem for bee managers. Megachile rotundata are solitary yet gregarious bees that nest in pre-existing cavities and are attracted to previously used nests. Nest cells contain several components that may serve as cues for nesting females. In the current study, we sought to: 1. determine if there is a preference for cells that previously held male or female conspecific bees; 2. verify attraction to conspecific whole nest cells; and 3. determine which individual nest components of a cell are attractive to nesting females. In a series of cage and open field experiments, M. rotundata females were allowed to initiate nests in blocks containing whole cells or individual cell components from old nests. Statistical analyses of results verified the attraction to conspecific nest cells, with no preference for male or female cells. Females were equally attracted to whole cells from conspecifics and from another megachilid bee, Osmia lignaria. In field cages, females were equally attracted to all cell components, but preferred some cell components over others in open field experiments. These results provide a foundation for future studies to identify potential chemical lures to aid in the retention of bee populations at commercial nest sites.
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