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Snail-nesting bees
Snail-nesting mason bees (Osmia rufohirta) nest in empty snail shells.
Inside they line them with leaf mastic, with which they also mark their
exterior. Then they bring pollen and nectar into them, lay their eggs and
close their nests with chewed up leaves and sand. Eventually they roll the
shells into leafage and hide them well. Their efforts, however, can be in
vain if their nests are discovered by the parasitic chrysidid wasp. While the
nest's owner is away, the wasp enters the shell and lays its eggs in it. The
larva that hatches from it feeds on nutrients gathered by the bee and, on top
of it, kills its larva. |
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Snail-nesting mason bee (Osmia rufohirta) nests in an empty snail shell. |
When returning from "pasture", it first of all
enters the shell head first to disgorge the nectar. |
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In
order to scrape the pollen cargo from the bottom part of its abdomen, it must
enter the shell also with its backside first. |
Chrysidid wasp Chrysura dichroa lays its eggs
into the nests of snail-nesting mason bees. |
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Slovenian
Museum of Natural History
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