An overview of proximate factors affecting the nesting behavior of solitary wasps and bees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) in preexisting cavities in wood

Abstract

Neotropical Entomology 35(3): 285-298 (2006) Revisão sobre a Influência de Fatores Proximais na Nidificação de Vespas e Abelhas Solitárias (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) em Cavidades Pré-Existentes no Lenho PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Vespa solitária, abelha solitária, guilda, cavidade em árvores, ninho-armadilha ABSTRACT -Guilds of Aculeate solitary wasps and bees that nest in preexisting cavities in wood are important components of terrestrial ecosystems because they engage in several ecological interactions (e.g. predation and pollination) with other species of plants and animals. Spatial and temporal variations in richness and abundance of solitary wasps and bees can be related to changes in environmental structure and in the diversity of other groups of organisms. The nesting period of these Aculeata is their most critical life cycle stage. Females of solitary wasp and bee species invest relatively more time constructing and provisioning their nests than do females of social species. Differently from species that nest in the soil or construct exposed nests, the main factors affecting the reproductive success of solitary species nesting in preexisting wood holes are still unknown. Our objective is to provide an overview of the role of proximate causes of nesting failure or success among solitary wasps and bees (Aculeata), for designing effective conservation and management strategies for these Hymenoptera.

Nesting biology of the trap-nesting Neotropical wasp Trypoxylo n(Trypargilum) aurifrons Shuckard (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)

“…A number of factors affect nest-building rates among Hymenoptera, such as temperature, wind and rainfall, as well as the availability and features of natural cavities (Morato & Martins 2006). Our results indicate that temperature is the main seasonal condition affecting T. aurifrons nesting behavior.…”

Vertical diversity patterns and biotic interactions of trap-nesting bees along a fragmentation gradient of small secondary rainforest remnants

“…This variability could be due to many factors, since little is known about the nesting behavior of bees in tropical forests. The presence or absence of specific tree species, occurrence of natural nesting sites, and food availability (Tscharntke et al 1998;Viana et al 2001;Morato and Martins 2006) among other factors can affect bee species diversity unrelated to fragment size. However, our small-sized fragments appear to offer nesting opportunities and food resources for bees since we found similar species numbers as Morato and Campos (2000) in large Amazonian fragments.…”

Diversity of cavity-nesting bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) within apple orchards and wild habitats in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada

“…3). However, natural habitats within or adjacent to woodlands probably contain abundant natural nesting sites (e.g., Steffan-Dewenter and Leschke 2003; Morato and Martins 2006), which may decrease trap nest occupation (see Buschini 2006 and references therein). Buschini (2006) compared trap-nesting bees in natural communities in Brazil and found that species richness was lower in forest habitats than in more open swamps and grasslands, and this was attributed to natural-cavity use.…”