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1-12-1894 The aH bits of the Aculeate Hymenoptera. II William H. Ashmead
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Recommended Citation Ashmead, William H., "The aH bits of the Aculeate Hymenoptera. II" (1894). An. Paper 58. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_an/58
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THE HABITS OF THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA.-If.
BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, "\,VASI-IINGTON, D. C.
Mr. E. Baynes Reed, in "Notes on sity of habits and should be more care Megachile brevis Say" (Can. ent. v. 3, fully studied, as this diversity of habits 1871, p. 210) · has figured this species will no doubt be found correlated with and records the following respecting jt. structural differences that will justify sub-generic divisions of this large genus. While Inspecting during the past summer, The cells are constructed_ of sand, the fruit orchard of a friend residing in this neighborhood, my attention was attracted by earth, or clay, agglutinated and mixed the peculiar appearance of the leaves of a with pebbles or the raspings of wood, young plum tree. At the first glance, I held together by a glutinous substance thought it might be atfected by Aphides, but, secreted by the female ; internally the on closer examination, I found unmistakable cells are always smooth, but externally evidence of the work of a leaf-cutting bee, in they are rough in conformity with the the circular holes in many of the leaves, and on opening one of the coils of leaves, of mat«;rial used in their construction. which there were four or five, I discovered These cells vary in number in each nest, the curious chambers of the bee, each con usually from. ro to 20 being found taining a half grown grub comfortably together. Each cell contains a deposit ensconced, with its modicum of food. I of honey-paste for the subsistance of the took some of the coils home, but only suc ceeded in rearing two perfect insects. larva, only a single larva or egg being found in each cell. Curtis found the The genus Osmia, structurally, 1s enormous number of 230 cells of the closely allied to Megachile, but the European Osmia parietina attached to species composing it construct nests the under side of a large flat stone. Mr. entirely different. They have received L. 0. Howard, in his article in the the name of "mason-bees," -from the Standard Natural History, calls atten way they construct small earthen cells tion to a remarkable case of retarded under stones, in burrows excavated in development in this species observed by decaying wood, rotten posts and twigs, Mr. Frederick Smith. "From a quan in deserted snail-shells, in cynipidous tity of cells collected in Scotland in galls, or elsewhere. 1849, about one-third only had given Very little seems to be known respect forth the adult bees. Some of the re ing the habits of the North American mainder issued the following year, while species, Dr. Packard, in his Guide, about thirty-five remained in the larva being apparently the only author who state until May, 1851, when they trans has written anything about them. From formed and issued a month later." his observations and those published One of our largest species, Osmia li'g abroad, the species exhibit great diver- nivora Pack., according to Ur. Packard, 40 PSrCHE. [March 189~. industriously tunnels out an elaborate odd situations for their nests, the British burrow in maple several inches from species Anthidz'ttm manicatum having the bark, wherein it forms its cells. been twice observed to nidificate in the a garden gate. Prof. West The tunnel was over three inches long and key-hole of about three-tenths of an inch wide. It con wood thus describes one found in a tracted a little in width between the cells, similar position. showing that the bee worked intelligently, There were twelve or fifteen cells or cases and wasted no more of her energies than was consisting externally of a loose covering of absolutely necessary. The burrow contained white down within which was another cover five c:ells each half an inch long, being rather ing more compact and smooth on the inside short and broad, with the hinder end rounded and within this was contained an oval cell, of while the opposite and next to the one ad a strong coriaceous texture, and of a chestnut joining, is cut off squarely. The cell is some color. This latter l consider to be the cocoon what jug-shaped, owing to a slight constric formed by the larva itself, because some of tion just behind the mouth. The material of my woolly cases contained a mass of matter which the cell is composed is stout, silken, apparent:y consisting of dried pollen-paste parchment-like, and very smooth within. and the egg deposited with it which had The interstices between the cells are filled probably on some account proved abortive; with rather coarse chippings made by the and in these there was no oval chestnut bee. colored cocoon. It was in February that this The bee cut its way out of the cells in nest was discovered, at which period some of J\Iarch, and lived for a month afterwards on a the cells were empty, the inhabitants having diet of honey and water. It eagerly lapped forced off a circular cap from the top of the up the drops of waler supplied by its keepei-, cocoon and escaped; others, however, con to whom it soon grew accustomed, and whom tained full- ized grubs. it seemed to recognize." Osnzz'a lignan'a and 0. pacijica Say, No observation seems to have even on the contrary, build their cells under been published on any of our numerous stones, while 0. sz'mz'llima Smith, one species, although many of the species of the smallest of our species, constructs are so plentiful. its cells in the deserted oak-galls made The genera Coelioxys L atr. and by Ampliz'bolips con.fluens Harris, th~ Stelis Panzer are parasitic bees, both agreeing with Osnzz'a gal/arum of having been bred in Europe; the Europe. I have also observed another former from the cells of Megachile, species in a deserted oak-gall in Florida. Anthophora and Anthidium, the latter Species in the genus Anthz'dz'um, from Osmia. No observations on any according to Westwood, "frequent vari of the American species have ever been ous woolly-leaved flowers, stripping off recorded. the down with thei r toothed jaws for the Although the parasitic habits of purpose of forming their nests " Stelis was so long known it was not The Anthidii, as with certain Odyneri, until last year that the true inward his although said to nidi ficate usually in tory was given in the publication of holes in trees, will sometimes choose Mr. C. Veshoeff's observations on 41 March 1894.J PSYCHE. must, however, be Stelis minuta Ny!. (Zool. anzeiger, This statement as it does not agree with vol. xv, 1892, pp. 41-43). erroneous, mine made on a com This species was found to be para- observations of species. It was evi . sitic in the nests of Osmia leucome mon American insufficient data, laena Kirby which constructs its cells dently based upon to be the case re in hollow twigs. Dr. Riley's summary just as was found statement about of this species is as follows: - pecting St. Fargeau's Sphecodes being parasitic in the cells At the bottom of the cell the female Osmia of Halictus. first puts a layer of pollen which is to serve while in Missis as food for the nearly full grown larva. The past summer, Above this pollen, the bee commences to sippi, I was fortunate enough to store the cell with prepared bee-bread. At stumble upon several specimens of her th i moment the female Stelis watches Epeolus donatus Smith rnaking their to lay an egg in the Osmia cell, opportunity burrows, and I am thus enabled to the egg thus being always near the bottom that this species is not parasitic (posterior end) of the food mass. Unaware assert honey of the presence of the parasite egg, the but builds cells and deposits Osmia female continues her work, and, after paste for its off.5pring, just as many nearly filling the cell, deposits her own egg other solitary bees. My observations end) of the food mass. on the top (anterior throw grave doubts upon the reliability The cell is then closed with a layer of of Shuckard's statement and lead me macerated particles of plants and a &econd cell he had cells of both prepared above the first. The Stelis larva to believe that hatches but little earlier than that of the Epeolus and Colletes mixed together 0 mia, and both larva feed on the food in his breeding jars, when his speci the mass, the parasite larva at the bottom, mens were reared. top. The latter remains host larva at the On the plantation where I was stay tationary at the top and grows very slowly; near Utica, Miss., Epeolus dona the parasite larva grows more rapidly, and ing, its burrow gradually works its way upward through the tus was observed making food-mas , thus gradually approaching the in hard clay, beneath a cotton-gin Osmia larva. The crisis finally comes; the shed, into which I had run to escape Osmia larva-a Stelis larva encounters the a passing rain storm which came on short but deadly combat ensues-the Osmia suddenly, while I was investigating larva is easily overpowered and killed by in a cotton-field near by. the much larger and tronger parasite, and cotton-insects by its body is devoured by the latter within one My attention was first attracted or two days. the buzzing of the bees ; for, as they field to enter their The genus Epeolus is stated by our returned from the they invari American authorities to be parasitic in burrows, before alighting circles above the the cells of Colletes, evidently based ably made several burrow, all the time upon an observation of an English mouth of their loud humming or buzz authority, Shuckard, who claims to making a very noticeable and which have bred Epeolus 71ariegatus from ing noise, very reach the ground. the cells of one of these bees. ceases only as they 42 PSrCHE. l March 1894.
I thus easily discovered several burrows taken from its cell August t5, measu reel and afterwards saw females in the act 4 mm. long, hy o.8 mm. in diameter, at of digging them. its thickest part. All except three or four had the A larva, taken August 16, doubled peculiar tubular entrance formed of up in its cell, measured 12 mm. long, cemented clay at their mouth, similar while the broadest abdominal segment to those made by Anthophora and other measured only 5 mm. It tapered very solitary bees. Burrows that had not much toward the head, was of a white the tubular entrance at their mouth, color, with the derma finely, irregu evidently had it originally, but it ha , 43 March 1894.] PSYCHE. we have ( 1) gall-makers or plant tary bees, although additional evidence feeders ( Isosoma and allies), ( z) is needed to establish the sort of para comrnensals or inquilines (Eurytoma sitism it is. genera) and (3) true para Dr. Packard has reared Nornada im and allied sites (Bruchoj;hagus, Eurytoma, etc.). bricata Smith and N. vincta Say same state of affairs occurs also in ( = pulchella Sm.) from the nests of The the fig-insects (Blastr1pbaginae), and Andrena vzczna Smith; and the in the gall-inhabiting Toryminae. former also from the cells of Hal£ctus Family II. ANDRENIDAE. In hab parallelus Say and found: its and structure this family is in all Both full-grown larvae and pupae of differ respects very closely allied to the pre take ent ages, up to the adult Nomad a, ready to ceding. About 150 species, distributed therefore, that the leave of its host. It seems, in 14 genera, are already known from newly hatched young of omada must feed horeal North America. the pollen mass destined for the Andrena. on except the genus But there seems to be enough for both genera All of the genera, to feed upon, as the young of both host anct Prosapis Fabr., which like Ceratina, parasite were found living harmoniously in the preceding family, excavates the are together, and the host and their parasites stems of brambles, etc., burrow gal the same time. disclosed both at leries in the ground in which they At one time two or Is it not just possible that this socia place their cells. Sphecodes, Augo bility of the two larvae is fictitious and three of the genera, were considered to lasts only just so long as the food chlora and Prosapis, in the cells supply is suffic'tent for both? When be parasitic or inquilinous others, but have since the food supply gives out, will they not of some of the honey-producers like also attack each other just as in the been shown to be case of Stelis? the rest. few of It seems to me that here we have an The nests of comparatively been studied in detail. admirable illustration of the origin of our genera have Smith, as observed parasitism. We have (r) commensa Andrena vicina and others, ex lism, (z) parasitism, induced by hun by Mr. J. H. Emerton gallery in the ger, and (3) genuine parasitism, which cavates a perpendicular of several inches is induced or acquired by the two ground to the depth off from which it former conditions, until finally it or more, branching short oblique galleries becomes permanently acquired through then excavates cells which are lined heredity. The same thing is strikingly in which the secretion are exhibited in the family Cynipidae with a muscous-like where we find ( 1) gall-makers, ( 2) placed. built in the latter part commensals or inquilines and (3) The nests are May. The cells true parasites; again in the family of April and during a ball of pollen and Chalcididae, in the Eurytomides where are then filled with 44 PSrCHE. [March 1894. honey, those nearest the surface being No observations have been made on provisioned first, those at the bottom our species belonging to the genus last. The period of development from Oxybelus, but in Europe they are found d egg to imago is about five weeks, so to burrow in sand and to provision that imagos issue all through July and their nests with dipterous insects. August. Verhoeff states that the species in this The genera Ct"lissa Leach, Nomia genus do not paralyze their prey by Latr. and Halt"cbts Latr. have similar stinging like most other fossorial wasps habits. as they are unable to do so on account The nests of Auglochlora pura, as of the rigidity of the abdomen, but the recorded by Say (Bost. Journ., v. 1, instead they crush the thorax with the 1837, p. 397) were found in the soft, mandibles just beneath the wings, decomposing sap-wood of the oak and centre of the nervous ganglia. He hickory, between the bark and the found in one nest a doze11 flies (Hydro solid wood. taea) and all had their thorax crushed and were dead. According to Fabre The cells are oval, horizontal, not sym Oxybelus makes no use of its mandi metrically disposed though many an: paral bles and legs in carrying its prey, but lel. These cel ls are composed of par instead carries it home on its sting! ticles of the decayed wood agglutinated The genus in Europe is parasitized by Each cell contains one individual together. ,lfiltogramma conica. subsisting on a yellow-pollen. In the same Crabro cepha assemblage are the young of all age~ to the Shuckarcl tells us that perfect insect. loLes "employs its mandibles in forming a cylindrical cell in decaying The habits of none of our species of trees passing the particles of wood P1-osapis and Colletes have been beneath them and ejecting them observed. behind by means of the spines on the A Dipteron ilEiltogramma punctata posterior tibiae'" ; Latreille that Crabro has been reared from Colletes 111 cribarius provisions its nest with the Europe. larva of T ortrt"x chlorana, which Family III. CRABRONIDAE. This feeds upon the oak. This last differs, family is represented in our fauna by however, from Shuckard's observations, over one hundred species, unequally dis who found this species, as well as C. tributed in seven genera. The species, patellatus and other species, storing according to the "records," exhibit the their nests with Diptera. Crabro leu greatest diversity in their habits. West costoma was observed by Westwood wood says, ''Those whose economy has making its burrow in rotten wood and been clearly traced make their cells provisioning with Anthomyia pluvia in wood, boring into palings, posts, lis; he also relates that a Crabronid willows, stumps, etc." nest given to him by Mr. Pickering, March 1894.] PSrCHE. 45 foun