scholarly journals Parasitism of the carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), by larval Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae)

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEROME GODDARD ◽  
LAWRENCE BIRCHAM
Keyword(s):  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Carpenter Bee ◽  
Xylocopa Virginica

Climate limitations on the distribution and phenology of a large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 785-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitri A. Skandalis ◽  
Miriam H. Richards ◽  
Todd S. Sformo ◽  
Glenn J. Tattersall
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Minimum Temperature ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Temperature Tolerance ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Absolute Minimum ◽  
Carpenter Bee ◽  
Low Temperature Tolerance ◽  
Xylocopa Virginica

We studied climatic correlates of the geographic range of a common large carpenter bee ( Xylocopa virginica (L., 1771)), which reaches farther north than any other Xylocopa in North America. Computational models of the species’ range predicted that summer and winter temperatures limit its northern extent, whereas summer precipitation limits its western extent. We empirically evaluated the climatic constraints imposed by different seasons by examining the winter low-temperature tolerance of X. virginica, and the timing of activity during spring and summer. The bee’s absolute low-temperature tolerance (supercooling point) did not differ between two populations at mid- and high latitudes, and was in excess of requirements of a mean winter minimum temperature. Absolute minimum temperature tolerances may not directly influence the range of X. virginica, whereas other measures of cold tolerance, like exposure duration, might be more relevant. Between years within a study population, spring emergence dates of bees were significantly predicted by spring temperatures and weather (April: 6–11 °C; May: 13–17 °C). Between populations across the bee’s geographic range, bees in warmer climates were observed as much as 2–3 months earlier in the year. This suggests that a major constraint on the bee’s range is the length of the active season, which may be too short for brood development at high latitudes.

Ergonomic skew and reproductive queuing based on social and seasonal variation in foraging activity of eastern carpenter bees (Xylocopa virginica)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 615-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Richards ◽  
C. Course
Keyword(s):  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Carpenter Bee ◽  
Eusocial Insects ◽  
Carpenter Bees ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Reproductive Division Of Labour ◽  
Xylocopa Virginica ◽  
Reproductive Division

Reproductive division of labour in social carpenter bees differs from that in classically eusocial insects because reproductive output and ergonomic inputs are positively correlated—dominant females monopolize both foraging and reproduction. We quantified ergonomic skew in the facultatively social bee Xylocopa virginica (L., 1771) (eastern carpenter bee) based on detailed observations of foraging activity by individually marked females in 2009. Unusually for a univoltine bee, this species exhibits a spring foraging phase during which females feed pollen to other adults, probably as part of behavioural interactions to establish dominance hierarchies. During brood-provisioning, foraging in social nests was dominated by one female at a time, with replacement by a succession of foragers as dominants disappeared and were succeeded by a subordinate. The principal foragers (individuals that did the largest share of foraging in each colony) did 85%–100% of all pollen trips, so contributions to pollen-provisioning by female nest mates were highly uneven. Individual foraging rate was unaffected by group size and total colony foraging effort was a function of the number of foragers per group. Transient females that moved to new nests were as successful in achieving dominant forager status as females resident in their natal nests. This evidence indicates that colony social organisation is based on reproductive queues, whereby the first-ranked bee is the dominant forager and subordinates queue for opportunities to replace her.

Nests of a Tube-dwelling Bee in Quaternary Sediments of the Jeffara Plain, S. P. L. A. J.

1984 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 137-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Anketell ◽  
S. M. Ghellali
Keyword(s):  
Nest Structure ◽  
Quaternary Sediments ◽  
Fine Silt ◽  
Carpenter Bee ◽  
Xylocopa Virginica ◽  
Floodplain Deposits ◽  
General Architecture

AbstractVertical, tubular borings, either simple or subdivided into cells by horizontal, spirally ornamented partitions of cemented fine silt, are common in the uppermost part of Unit Q3 of the Quaternary floodplain deposits in the eastern part of the Jeffara Plain. The structures display many features similar to those found in nests constructed by tube-dwelling, solitary wasps and bees. The size of the cells, the spiral construction of the partitions and the general architecture of the cells is closely comparable to the nest structure of the large carpenter bee Xylocopa virginica krombeini Hurd., and it is suggested that the Quarternary nests were constructed by a bee of Xylocopid type.

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