Nesting Biology of the Solitary Ground-Nesting Bee Diadasina riparia (Apidae: Emphorini)

Abstract

We described the nesting behavior and ecology of Diadasina riparia, from an urban dry forest fragment. The nests of D. riparia were shallow with circular entrance, closed by a mud plug, from which a straight vertical tunnel ending in one or more brood cells. Most females need one day for construction and provisioning the nest. The natural enemies were flies of Anthrax genus, the cleptoparasitic bees Leiopodus trochantericus, and Mutillidae wasp. The feature about the life history, nest architecture, materials used, pollen provisions behavior and associated organisms of this species allow the comparison with other emphorines species.

Keywords

• fossorial bee
• Caatinga
• oligolecty bees
• nesting behavior