Nestng biology and seasonality of long-horned bee Eucera nigrilabris lepeleter (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

We provide informaton on the nestng behavior, seasonality and nest soli type characteristcs of Eucera nigrilabris Lepeleter, 1841 in Egypt. A nest was discovered in a canal bank in Abbis Village, Alexandria, Western Egypt. The species is protandrous, univoltne, ground nestng species. The bees built deep nests about 85cm under the ground and consisted of lined, branched tunnel with many cells. The bees start fly by end of January untl end of March and actve in winter seasons. The soil of the nest has yellow color, sandy loam texture, low salinty and sodicity, and low calcium carbonate content. The bee distrbiuton was influnced by the soil with high content of sodium carbonate. The bees forage on the wild flora of the family Asteraceae carriyng a yellow pollen load. There is no any record of a cleptoparasitsm around the nestng area.