Biology:Euherbstia
| Euherbstia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Euherbstia excellens Female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Andrenidae |
| Subfamily: | Andreninae |
| Genus: | Euherbstia Friese, 1925 |
| Species: | E. excellens
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| Binomial name | |
| Euherbstia excellens Friese, 1925
| |
Euherbstia is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae.[1] The only species in this genus is Euherbstia excellens, which is endemic to Chile .[1][2]
These bees have been observed to make nests in hard, compact soil, using cracks to enter the ground below.[3] Females will make solitary nests.[3] The female seeks out cracks in the ground, in which she digs a tunnel down to make her nest.[2][3] She will repeatedly thump the walls of the tunnel with her abdomen, to make them more compact.[3] Like all mining bees, they will create cells which they fill with pollen and eggs, closing them off until the larvae pupate and emerge the next year.[2][3] Some larvae hibernate in a pupated state up to 2 years.[3] This is probably because these bees live in an arid climate, where it is uncertain whether it will rain enough in a year to sustain the plants they need for food.[3] As one generation of emerging adults might die because of drought, the next generation might survive, giving the species more chance of survival.
The name Euherbstia, (From Herbst, German[4]) is a reference to the activity of these bees, which is in the months of October and November.[3] Males, and females that have yet to build a nest, sleep overnight in convenient cracks in the soil.[3] Foraging activity peaks around midday.[3]
No cuckoo bee species seem to target the nests of Euherbstia.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ITIS Standard Report Page: Euherbstia". https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634117#null.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Michener, Charles Duncan (2000) (in en). The Bees of the World. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801861338. https://books.google.com/books?id=bu_1gmY13FIC.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Rozen, Jr., Jerome G. (1993) (in en-US). Phylogenetic relationships of Euherbstia with other short-tongued bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). American Museum novitates ; no. 3060.
- ↑ "Herbst - Wiktionary" (in en). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Herbst.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q18099264 entry
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