Photo: Mining Bee, Judy Gallagher
Judy Gallagher is an ASNV board member and a regular surveyor of local wildlife who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species. Here are some observations from her most recent survey.
Have you ever seen a barren patch of ground that is speckled with tiny holes?
Holes on barren ground, Judy Gallagher
If you look closely, you might see tiny hairy half-inch long Mining Bees zooming around above the holes. Mining Bees are solitary bees, each excavating its own hole, but there can be large aggregations of holes in one location.
Mining Bee, Judy Gallagher
After mating, the female digs a burrow with multiple chambers, one for each egg that she will lay, as seen here in this drawing done by Jim Gallagher.
Mining Bee burrow, Jim Gallagher
The Mining Bee larva will dine on pollen lovingly collected by the female Mining Bee. Many Mining Bee species only obtain pollen from one plant species, and their pollen-collecting structures are designed for the specific type of pollen they collect.
Female Mining Bee with pollen, Judy Gallagher
Once the nest is provisioned and the eggs are laid, the female Mining Bee closes up the hole. Larvae become adults and overwinter underground, surfacing the next spring. Many Mining Bees species are cold tolerant and are seen earlier in the season than most other bee species. They are important pollinators of early spring flowers. There is at least one other bee that is also out that early in the season. Unlike most other bees, Nomad Bees do not have pollen-collecting structures and do not construct their own nests. Instead, they zoom into Mining Bee nests and lay their eggs on the Mining Bee's pollen ball. The Nomad Bee larva eats both the pollen and the Mining Bee larva. Here's a Nomad Bee preparing to go into a Mining Bee nest.
Nomad Bee, Judy Gallagher
Parasitic Flies and Blister Beetles can also parasitize Mining Bee nests.
There's another predator on this barren ground. Oblique-lined Tiger Beetles lurk in wait for Mining Bees, Nomad Bees, Parasitic Flies, and Blister Beetles, capturing them with their fearsome jaws.
Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle, Judy Gallagher