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Nest switching and guarding by the communal sweat beeAgapostemon virescens (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

Le changement des nids et le gardiennage par l'abeille Agaspostemon virescens (Hymenoptera, Halictidae)

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Summary

In a nest aggregation of the univoltine sweat beeAgapostemon virescens in New York State, U.S.A., 58% of the adult females switched nests during their adult lives. Continuous guarding protected communal nests against the cleptoparasitic beeNomada articulata which successfully attacked nests occupied by solitary females. All females were egg layers and foraged for pollen at least occasionally. At the end of the foraging season, some nestmates usually acted as guards while others usually foraged.

Resume

Dans un rassemblement de nids de l'HalictinaeAgapostemon virescens, une espèce avec une seule génération par année, dans l'Etat de New York aux Etats-Unis, 58% des femelles ont changé de nid pendant leur vie adulte. Le gardiennage continuel protégeait les nids communaux contre l'abeille cleptoparasiteNomada articulata, qui attaquait avec succès les nids des femelles solitaires. Toutes les femelles jouaient le rôle de pondeuse et de pourvoyeuse de pollen, au moins occasionnellement. A la fin de l'été, quelques-uns des occupants du nid se spécialisent en gardiennes et d'autres en pourvoyeuses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York, U.S.A.

    Judith Abrams & George C. Eickwort

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  1. Judith Abrams
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  2. George C. Eickwort
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Abrams, J., Eickwort, G.C. Nest switching and guarding by the communal sweat beeAgapostemon virescens (Hymenoptera, Halictidae). Ins. Soc 28, 105–116 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223699

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223699

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