Journal Article

Notes on the use of 'bee hotels' by stem-nesting Hymenoptera in three County Dublin orchards

Stout, Jane C, Hodge, Simon, Maher, Stephanie

2023

Overview

To investigate the nesting behaviour of stem-nesting bees and wasps, homemade \"bee hotels containing cardboard nest tubes were placed out from March to September 2021 in three Co. Dublin orchards (Aras an Uacht aráin, University College Dublin, and Lusk). Occupation of nest tubes commenced in May, and peaked in July and August. The following spring, four species of Hymenoptera emerged, each using a narrow range of nest tube diameters: the bees Hylaeus communis (4 mm tubes), Osmia bicornis (8 mm tubes) and Megachile versicolor (8-10 mm tubes), and the potter wasp Ancistrocerus trifasciatus (4-6 mm tubes). There was also an indication that some species might prefer hotels set at certain heights above the ground, although data were too few to make definitive conclusions. Although bees and wasps emerged from hotels placed out at all three sites, the overall rate of emergence from individual nest tubes was very low (c.1.8 %). The results of this study suggest that future investigations on Irish stem-nesting Hymenoptera would benefit by providing a range of nest tube diameters, ideally set at different heights above the ground. Additionally, to optimize workloads, exposure times in the field could be restricted to summer months (May-August) ana setting up fewer nest tubes per site would likely suffice.

• Publisher: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd, c/o National Museum of Ireland – Natural History
• Subject: Hotels / Nesting / Nesting behavior