Tucker Sara K, Ginsberg Howard S, Alm Steven R
Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI.
U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Woodward Hall, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI.
Environ Entomol. 2019 Jun 7;48(3):702-710. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvz032.
Analysis of pollen provisions in Xylocopa virginica (L.) nests in southern Rhode Island showed that this species produced pollen loaves from 21 different genera of plants in 2016, 19 in 2017, and 39 in 2018. Antirrhinium majus L. (garden snapdragon) pollen was the most common type collected in all three years (21.4%). Overall, wind-pollinated tree pollen comprised 22.1% of all pollen loaves. Blueberry pollen was a minor component of pollen loaves (0.1%), despite abundant blueberry plants nearby. Mean values of X. virginica nest measurements (tunnel length 15.4 ± 1.2 cm, width 15.0 ± 0.5 mm, and cell length 17.7 ± 0.3 mm) were similar to those reported in previous studies. Only 2 of the 216 trap nests deployed in 2017 were occupied by 11 X. virginica bees (9 females and 2 males). However, 17 nests contained 230 Osmia taurus Smith, 6 nests contained 73 O. cornifrons (Radoszkowski), and 1 nest contained 8 O. lignaria Say. Thirty-four nests (15.7%) were occupied by 151 grass-carrying wasps, Isodontia sp. and 6 vespid wasps occupied three nests (1.4%) in 2017. In 2018, 4 of 96 trap nests were occupied by carpenter bees. Understanding the nesting and foraging habits of X. virginica will help us to manage natural populations for pollination services.
对罗德岛南部维吉尼亚木蜂（Xylocopa virginica (L.)）巢穴中的花粉储备进行分析后发现，2016年该物种采集了来自21个不同植物属的花粉块，2017年为19个，2018年为39个。金鱼草（Antirrhinium majus L.）花粉是这三年中采集到的最常见类型（占21.4%）。总体而言，风媒树花粉占所有花粉块的22.1%。尽管附近有大量蓝莓植株，但蓝莓花粉在花粉块中占比很小（0.1%）。维吉尼亚木蜂巢穴测量的平均值（隧道长度15.4 ± 1.2厘米，宽度15.0 ± 0.5毫米，巢室长度17.7 ± 0.3毫米）与之前研究报告的数值相似。2017年部署的216个诱捕巢中只有2个被11只维吉尼亚木蜂占据（9只雌蜂和2只雄蜂）。然而，有17个巢中有230只金牛座壁蜂（Osmia taurus Smith），6个巢中有73只角额壁蜂（O. cornifrons (Radoszkowski)），1个巢中有8只淡黄壁蜂（O. lignaria Say）。2017年，34个巢（占15.7%）被151只携草黄蜂（Isodontia sp.）占据，6个胡蜂占据了3个巢（占1.4%）。2018年，96个诱捕巢中有4个被木蜂占据。了解维吉尼亚木蜂的筑巢和觅食习性将有助于我们管理自然种群以提供授粉服务。
