Wild solitary bees and their use of bee hotels in southwest Spain

González-Zamora, José E.; Hidalgo-Matas, José A.; Corell, Mireia

doi:10.1080/00218839.2021.1892416

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our results suggest the spillover of non‐native fungi to multiple native mason bee species from co‐introduced non‐native mason bee species may offer insight regarding observed regional declines in six native Osmia species (Gutierrez et al, 2023; LeCroy et al, 2020). With increasing use of “bee hotels” by the public (Fortel et al, 2016; González‐Zamora et al, 2021), without periodic cleaning, these nesting cavities could cause hotspots of Ascosphaera buildup and high rates of infection, serving as points of Ascosphaera spillover to native mason bees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spillover of chalkbrood fungi to native solitary bee species from non‐native congeners

LeCroy

Krichilsky

Grab

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Introduced, managed bees such as mason bees (genus Osmia) can confer significant pollination benefits to agricultural systems, but a risk of introducing non‐native species into new ecosystems is the co‐introduction of pathogens along with them. Pathogen spillover to wild, native bees may then drive native bee species declines. This study examined prevalence of the chalkbrood‐causing fungal genus Ascosphaera in the nests of both non‐native and native mason bee species. We conducted large‐scale trap‐nesting and pan‐trapping efforts across the Mid‐Atlantic United States with community scientists. Using molecular methods, nests were screened for all known Ascosphaera species in which genetic sequences have been published. After finding Ascosphaera species first described in Asia, we compared their local prevalence with the local abundance of mason bees from Asia. Lastly, we compared the prevalence of co‐introduced Ascosphaera species across sites with a variety of landcover profiles. Results indicate species originally described in Japan, Ascosphaera naganensis and Ascosphaera fusiformis, are now present in native Virginia mason bees, Osmia lignaria and Osmia georgica, with high prevalence of A. naganensis found in O. georgica. We also found that the declining native mason bee O. georgica experienced higher prevalence of non‐native Ascosphaera spp. at sites with larger numbers of non‐native O. cornifrons and O. taurus, perhaps indicating greater likelihood of spillover of these Ascosphaera species with greater sources of transmission. Lastly, when the proportion of agricultural landcover surrounding bee nests was high, there was greater prevalence of non‐native Ascosphaera in O. georgica compared to more natural landcover types. Synthesis and applications. Through community science programming, we documented species of Japanese chalkbrood fungi inside native mason bee nests in North America. Native mason bees encounter non‐native fungi more frequently with increasing abundance of non‐native mason bees. Agricultural landscapes may exacerbate spillover of non‐native fungi for native mason bees. Any use of non‐native bee species in agriculture should involve monitoring native bees for pathogens in the surrounding area for detection of spillover and species declines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With increasing use of "bee hotels" by the public (Fortel et al, 2016;González-Zamora et al, 2021), without periodic cleaning, these nesting cavities could cause hotspots of Ascosphaera buildup and high rates of infection, serving as points of Ascosphaera spillover to native mason bees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spillover of chalkbrood fungi to native solitary bee species from non‐native congeners

LeCroy

Krichilsky

Grab

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Urbanization, deforestation and agricultural expansion have severely impacted the natural habitats crucial for cavity-nesting bees, reducing options by removing deadwood and suitable plants for nesting. Bee hotels, or cavity nest boxes, have gained popularity as a possible environmental monitoring tool and addition to support bees and other cavity-nesting Hymenoptera reproduction (González-Zamora et al, 2021;MacIvor, 2017), even for rare species (Bogusch et al, 2017), but their effectiveness in conservation remains unverified (MacIvor & Packer, 2015). Providing optimal dimensions can help native species nest safely and deter larger exotic species (MacIvor & Packer, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

Osmia3DNest—Novel designed 3D printed artificial nest for solitary cavity‐nesting bees

Dylewski,

Kaźmierczak,

Giejdasz

et al. 2024

Methods Ecol Evol

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The availability and appropriateness of nesting sites significantly influence the reproductive success and overall welfare of wild bees. Human‐induced factors contribute to the destruction of natural nesting habitats. To address these limitations, innovative solutions such as the development of artificial nests, offer alternative nest sites to support wild bee populations. We designed the Osmia3DNest, a 3D printed standardized nest tube for solitary cavity‐nesting bees, aiming to provide a safety for the environment life‐long, time‐saving and biodegradable product that anyone can print. We proudly present the two Osmia3DNest models for mason bees—closed and open—using polylactic acid filament. We demonstrate the effectiveness of Osmia3DNest on mason bee reproduction parameters compared with traditional reed nests. Osmia3DNest can be an alternative to the other artificial nests, which people can customize for their necessity depending on their place of living (rural or urban area), and they can also be washed and reused several times and then decomposed. Osmia3DNest holds potential for wildlife biologists, management of pollinators, and educational outreach, offering adaptability for different bee species and experimental needs.

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Assessing concrete nest boxes for cavity-nesting bees

Henry,

Berrou,

Bourdon

et al. 2023

Biodivers Conserv

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Artificial nest boxes for solitary bees and other cavity-nesting Hymenoptera are increasingly used for a variety of purposes, including ecological research, crop pollination support and public outreach. Their attractivity and colonization success by cavity-nesting solitary bees depend on their design and placement, including hole dimensions, orientation and the neighboring habitats and available resources. While most bee nest boxes are made of wooden materials, we assessed here the suitability of perennial, concrete nest boxes for cavity-nesting bees. We carried out a three-year nesting survey of 52 custom-made nest boxes located in 11 different sites throughout France and totaling 2912 available holes of 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm in diameter. Concrete nest boxes successfully attracted reproductive females of solitary bee species and supported successful larval development until the emergence of new individuals. Preferred cavities were the smallest ones (6-8 mm), located at the lowest tested positions above ground (31-47 cm) and oriented southward. Local bee populations established in nest boxes steadily increased throughout the three successive seasons in nearly all study sites. The cavity-nesting bee communities were mostly composed of rather common and generalist species, but also comprised a foraging specialist. Additionally, two cleptoparasitic bee species were detected. All species belonged to the Megachilidae. We further discuss the effects of neighboring urban and natural habitats as potential source or sink of nesting bees, as well as opportunities of concrete nest boxes as tools for urban agriculture and more generally for the new biomimetic urban designs to restore local ecosystem services in cities.

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Wild solitary bees and their use of bee hotels in southwest Spain

Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

Spillover of chalkbrood fungi to native solitary bee species from non‐native congeners

Spillover of chalkbrood fungi to native solitary bee species from non‐native congeners

Osmia3DNest—Novel designed 3D printed artificial nest for solitary cavity‐nesting bees

Assessing concrete nest boxes for cavity-nesting bees

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