Pollen Preference and its Relationship to Nesting Success of Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Publisher： Entomological Society of America

ISSN： 1938-2901

Source： Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.88, Iss.6, 1995-11, pp. : 862-867

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Abstract

Estimations of pollen preference and nesting success were obtained when the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.), was exposed to 11 crop species. M. rotundata exhibited some preference for the majority of these species, but significant preferences were observed only for bird's-foot trefoil and crown vetch pollens. Although this graded preference response indicated the general acceptability of each species as a pollen source, it was not directly related to nesting success. Preferred pollen sources did not increase the numbers, size, and survivorship of offspring produced in the subsequent generation, but less preferred sources commonly contributed to lower levels of nesting success. M. rotundata demonstrated the highest level of nesting success when exposed to the moderately preferred sainfoin.