Nesting behavior of the wool carder bee Anthidium florentinum (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera; Megachilidae) in artificial nests in the region of Constantine

Abstract

During the summer of 2021, the nesting biology of Anthidium florentinum (Megachilidae) was investigated in artificial nests made of wooden cylinders and tie holes in Constantine (northeastern Algeria). The findings from the observation of 26 nests indicate that nests were multicellular (two to seven cells per nest), linear in structure, and made of plant fibers surrounding the nest or old woolly material from pre-existing cavities. The majority of female-occupied nests measured 0.8 to 2.2 cm in diameter. The partitions of the analyzed nests had accumulated wool caps, which is a behavior unique to Megachilid bees. The analysis of brood cell content revealed that A. florentinum females prefer Lamiaceae pollen grains for their broods.