The role of artificial nesting boxes and birds’ nests in maintaining vital activity of the Vespidae and Apidae families

Abstract

Background. During 2019‒2021, from the first decade of March to the third decade of July on the territory of northeastern Ukraine, ornithological studies on hollow-nesting birds populating artificial nestings were carried out. It is common knowledge, that in urban landscapes, the presence of wildlife is limited. Among the many different measures aimed at increasing the number of different groups of animals in urbanized areas, artificial nesting is the main solution for the reproduction and conservation of the population. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the role of artificial nesting in maintaining vital activitiy of the families Vespidae and Apidae. Methods. When checking and examining artificial nestings, 80 nests were found 69 of which were populated by representatives of the family Vespidae and 11 – by Apidae. For identification of nests and establishing the taxonomic status of representatives of the Vespidae and Apidae families in artificial nestings, keys were used. Results. In the territory of northeastern Ukraine, studies have been carried out in recreational areas: Homilsha Woods National Nature Park near Zadonetske and Gaidary villages (Kharkiv Region), Hetman National Nature Park near Klementove and Kamyanka villages, as well as in “Vakalivshchyna” tract near Vakalivshchyna village (Sumy Region). Among representatives of the Vespidae family in artificial nestings on the territory of northeastern Ukraine, two species ‒ Vespa crabro and Vespula vulgaris were identified; among the family Apidae – one representative species ‒ Bombus terrestris. Conclusions. Representatives of the families Vespidae and Apidae begin to populate artificial nestings from the third decade of April till the second decade of July (21.04‒10.07). On the studied territories of northeastern Ukraine, in Hetman National Nature Park near Kamyanka village, the number of nestings by V. vulgaris was maximal throughout all the years of study, besides, the number of individuals increased over the period. During inspections of the artificial nestings on the territory of the regional landscape park “Feldman Ecopark”, nestings of representatives of the Vespidae and Apidae families were found.

Buff‐tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris as a potential nest site competitor for the endangered forty‐spotted pardalote Pardalotus quadragintus

“…Previous observations of bumblebee colonies in Tasmania mostly entail nesting in holes in the ground, or close to the ground in compost heaps, piles of grass clippings, leaves, firewood or rubbish (Buttermore, 1997; Hingston et al., 2006). However, although nests of this species are also mostly found in holes in the ground in Europe, colonies of this species have also been observed there in above‐ground nest boxes installed for birds (Lye et al., 2012; Yarys & Chaplygina, 2022).…”

“…In such situations where vertebrates and invertebrates use the same nest boxes interactions can be commensal, mutualistic, competitive or amensal (Veiga et al., 2013). In this situation, the buff‐tailed bumblebee may have benefited from nest construction by a pardalote, as their nests constructed in nest boxes in Europe are also built on nesting material deposited by birds (Lye et al., 2012; Yarys & Chaplygina, 2022) while those built underground in Tasmania are often placed on the remains of rodent nests (Buttermore, 1997; Hingston et al., 2006). In contrast, pardalotes may have been adversely affected by the nesting bumblebees.…”