Osmia Spp. Reared in Artificial Nesting Sites in a Backyard Environment

Authors

R. L. Wilson, Iowa State UniversityFollow
C. A. Abel, Iowa State UniversityFollow
S. G. McClurg, Iowa State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

hornfaced bee, mason bee, Megachilidae, X-ray, Apis mellifera, 0smia cornifrom

Abstract

Controlled pollination in field cages is used at the United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service North Central Regional Plane Introduction Station (NCRPIS) for seed increase of several plane species. Honey bees, Apis mellifera L., have been used almost exclusively for several years. Recently we began investigating other pollinating insects for controlled pollination. 0smia cornifrons (Radoszkowski), a solitary bee imported from Japan, has been an excellent early-season pollinator. We placed domiciles of these bees in backyards of the NCRPIS staff to aid us in providing adequate numbers of bees for use in field cages the following growing season. We used an X-ray technique to aid in counting the number of bees present in rearing straws. We also note some of the different planes which the bees visited for food.

Publication Date

March 1999

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

106

Issue

1

First Page

4

Last Page

7

Copyright

© Copyright 1999 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Wilson, R. L.; Abel, C. A.; and McClurg, S. G. (1999) "Osmia Spp. Reared in Artificial Nesting Sites in a Backyard Environment," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 106(1), 4-7.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol106/iss1/4