Nesting Biology of the Bee Hoplitis princeps (Morawitz) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in Crimea

Abstract

Bionomics of Hoplitis princeps (Morawitz) was studied in Crimea. The species is confined to coastal psammophytic habitats and has one generation per year. Females nest in sand and excavate burrows near roots of various plants. The nests consist of 1 or rarely 2 cells arranged either side by side or one by one; one nest with 3 cells made by two different females was also discovered. The building material was masticated leaves of Astragalus varius subsp. eupatoricus Sytin; the provision was pollen and nectar from the same plant species. The cleptoparasitic bee Stelis aculeata Morawitz was discovered in the nests. The differences in the nest structure between H. princeps and a closely related species H. fulva (Eversmann) are discussed. The need for conservation of the H. princeps habitat in Crimea is substantiated.