Trap Nest Preference of Solitary Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Solitary bees play crucial role in pollination of Agricultural and horticultural crops. Construct their nests in soil, hallow reeds, wood, and preexisting cavities like man made holes. Artificial trap nests were used to study the occupancy rate. The results showed that small carpenter bee, Ceratina binghami C. preferred Peltophorum pterocarpum as nesting site with an average of 26% in a period of 21.2±9.1 days. Megachile sp., preferred papaya petioles with an average 8% of occupancy in 18±11.74 days. On an average of 3% trap occupancy was recorded in Ipomea reeds by Lithurgus sp. and Coelioxyx capitata S. in a period of 36.5±2.5 days, respectively. Vertically tied bundles of P. pterocarpum preferred by C.binghami taken less duration to occupy the nest compared to the horizontally tied bundles. In contrast, leaf cutter bees like Megachile sp., and Lithurgus sp.  was preferred more in horizontally tied bundles viz., Carica papaya L. and Ipomoea carnea L. comparative to P.pterocarpum bundles which is erected vertically less preferred by the leaf cutter bees. Many nests were recorded, where the rich source of vegetation is available Clepto-parasitic bee, Coelioxys capitata S. nesting biology and different life stages were studied. The life cycle of cleptoparasite was completed in 22.2±3.64 days.