NESTS, BEHAVIOUR AND LARVAE OF THE BEE STENOTRITUS PUBESCENS (SMITH) AND BEHAVIUR OF SOME RELATED SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: APOIDEA: STENOTRITINAE)

Abstract

Nests, provisions, and second and last larval instars of Stenotritus pubescens are described and figured for the first time. Nests were found aggregated in a soil slope. Two nests excavated differed from those of other ground‐nesting colletid bees in having cemented upper shaft walls, blind lateral tunnels, complete absence of any cellophane‐like linings, and moulded ovoid pollen masses resting in globules, possibly honey. Observation of the flight activity, foraging, mating and male territoriality of S. pubescens are recorded with brief notes on some related species. The information presented in considered to support a belief that stenotritine bees are misplaced in the family Colletidae. Copyright © 1975, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved