Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Saproxylic Bees and Wasps

2018; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-319-75937-1_7

2523-3912

Petr Bogusch, Jakub Horák,

Plant Parasitism and Resistance

Beesbees and waspswasps are usually known to occur in open habitats, with most species recorded from sand, loess, and open rock biotopes. Although most species nest underground (45% of the fauna of the Czech Republic), followed by parasitic species (31%), many species from various groups use dead wood for nesting. Of the group of species nesting in various cavities (21% of all species), one quarter is represented by species highly preferring cavities in dead wood. These species, especially of the families CrabronidaeCrabronidae, VespidaeVespidae, and MegachilidaeMegachilidae, are real saproxyles, as are also many members of the families ChrysididaeChrysididae, SapygidaeSapygidae, Tiphiidae,Tiphiidae and ScoliidaeScoliidae. The European honeybee is also saproxylic, with its preference for cavities tree hollows in tree trunks for nesting, as well as several species of bumblebees . Dead wood is the most important building material used by many wasps and paper wasps for making nests. Saproxylic bees and wasps are endangered due to the loss of old trees, as well as due to the removal of dead wood. We can support saproxylic hymenopterans in forests by retaining standing dead trees and other forms of sun-exposed sun-exposed wood dead wood. In urban or residential environments, populations of these insects can be supported using insect hotels and other types of artificial nests.