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Nesting biology and subsociality in Ceratina calcarata (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Sandra M. Rehan  and
Miriam H. Richards
Sandra M. Rehan*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1
Miriam H. Richards
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

To evaluate sociality in small carpenter bees (Ceratina Latreille), we studied the life history and nesting biology of a common eastern North American species, Ceratina (Zadontomerus) calcarata Robertson. Pan-trap and nest collections throughout the active season (May to September 2006) were used to assess C. calcarata’s seasonal phenology and nesting biology in southern Ontario. Adults overwintered in their natal nests. Males emerged in early May and occupied preexisting hollows in twigs and stems. Females emerged from hibernacula 2 weeks later, founding new nests. Nest founding and provisioning occurred throughout the spring; females remained with developing brood through the summer. Complete nests contained, on average, 6.9 offspring, with egg-to-adult development averaging 46 days. Ceratina calcarata is subsocial rather than solitary: mothers are long-lived and nest-loyal, and care for offspring from egg to adulthood. Subsociality is found in all behaviourally classified small carpenter bees, while some species cross the boundary into social life, making Ceratina an important genus for the study of the transition between solitary and social life.

Résumé

Afin d'évaluer la socialité des petites fourmis charpentières (Ceratina Latreille), nous avons étudié le cycle biologique et la biologie de la nidification chez une espèce commune de l'est de l'Amérique du Nord, C. (Zadontomerus) calcarata Robertson. Nous avons utilisé des pièges à cuvette et des récoltes de nids durant toute la saison active (mai à septembre 2006) pour déterminer la phénologie saisonnière et la biologie de la nidification chez C. calcarata dans le sud de l'Ontario. Les adultes passent l'hiver dans le nid où ils sont nés. Les mâles émergent au début de mai et occupent des cavités préexistantes dans les ramilles et les tiges. Les femelles émergent des hibernacles deux semaines plus tard et fondent de nouveaux nids. La fondation et l'approvisionnement des nids se poursuivent pendant tout le printemps et les femelles demeurent avec le couvain en développement pendant tout l'été. Les nids complets contiennent en moyenne 6,9 rejetons et le développement de l'œuf à l'adulte prend en moyenne 46 jours. Ceratina calcarata est subsocial plutôt que solitaire; les femelles vivent longtemps, sont fidèles au nid et s’occupent des petits, de l'œuf à l'adulte. On retrouve de la subsocialité chez toutes les fourmis classées comme petites charpentières d'après leur comportement, bien que certaines espèces passent la frontière vers la vie sociale, ce qui fait de Ceratina un taxon important pour l'étude des transitions de la vie solitaire à la vie sociale.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 142 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 65 - 74
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2010

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