Colletidae nesting biology (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Abstract

-Colletidae are unique among bees for certain aspects of their nesting biology. In this review, attributes of colletid nesting are evaluated and discussed in light of a novel phylogenetic hypothesis for the family. Some predictions made about evolution of certain traits, such as the cocoon-spinning behavior of Diphaglossinae, are confronted with phylogenetic evidence. The cellophane-like cell lining of Colletidae is a synapomorphy of this bee family, formed by polyester and characterized for being thick and strong, waterproof, and insoluble in different solvents. Historical developments towards the understanding of nature of the cell lining applied by colletids are summarized along with an account of diversity of some aspects of nesting of these bees.bee / nest / Colletidae / Stenotritidae / Dufour's gland

Nesting behavior and ecological preferences of five Diphaglossinae species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Colletidae) from Argentina and Chile

“…The cell earthern closure of Diphaglossinae nests appears to be similar in all species, as in many bees, showing internally a spiral design (Rozen 1984, Almeida 2008. This is consistent with the closure found in Ptiloglossa tarsata showing three coarse coils (Fig.…”

“…Cells with cocoons are closed by an operculum made of a disk of silk threads, whose fabric is different among species (Rozen 1984). Below the operculum it was described a structure named filter, composed of a net of silk threads that probably enables gas exchange (Roberts 1971, Rozen 1984, Almeida 2008. Immediately beneath the filter it was described another disk, similar in composition and structure to the operculum, but dome-shaped, which is called the ceiling (Rozen 1984).…”

Phylogeny of the Xeromelissinae (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) Based upon Morphology and Molecules

“…This decision is based upon results of a higher level phylogeny of the entire Colletidae (Almeida, 2007). In instances where only one sex is known for a species that was used in the molecular data set, that sex was coded for the morphological characters and a closely related species was used for the other sex.…”

Entering behavior of Gasteruption brachychaetum Schrottky (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) into a nest of Hylaeus Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Colletidae)

“…This bee does not have a scopa on the legs, like other colletids, and transports the pollen inside its crop. The pollen provision is pasty, almost liquid, which is also typical of Hylaeinae (Almeida 2008).…”

“…guaraniticus searched for a wooden cavity and started building the nest after her choice. The nests were made of a delicate and transparent membrane forming series of "cellophane-like" cells, typical of hylaeine bees (Almeida 2008 and references therein). The female built an operculum at the entrance at the beginning of the nesting process, which had a small hole in the middle and allowed the passage of the female, but we suppose that it helps to avoid alien invasion (Cordeiro & Alvesdos-Santos 2008).…”