1 research outputs found
Nest site selection in the European wool-carder bee,
For many organisms, choosing an appropriate nest site is a critical component of
reproductive fitness. Here we examine nest site selection in the solitary, resource
defense polygynous bee, Anthidium manicatum. Using a wood-framed screen
enclosure outfitted with food sources, nesting materials, and bamboo trap nests, we show
that female bees prefer to initiate nests in sites located high above the ground. We also
show that nest sites located at higher levels are less likely to contain spiderwebs,
suggesting an adaptive explanation for nest site height preferences. We report size
differences between this study’s source populations in Boston, Massachusetts and Brooklyn,
New York; male bees collected in Boston have smaller mean head widths than males collected
in Brooklyn. Finally, we argue that methods for studying captive populations of A.
manicatum hold great promise for research into sexual selection, alternative
phenotypes, recognition systems, and the evolution of nesting behavior