A new bee species that excavates sandstone nests.
Humanity has long been fascinated by animals with apparently unfavorable lifestyles [1]. Nesting habits are especially important because they can limit where organisms live, thereby driving population, community, and even ecosystem dynamics [2]. The question arises, then, why bees nest in active termite mounds [3] or on the rim of degassing volcanoes, seemingly preferring such hardship [4]. Here, we present a new bee species that excavates sandstone nests, Anthophora (Anthophoroides) pueblo Orr (described in Supplemental Information, published with this article online), despite the challenges already inherent to desert life. Ultimately, the benefits of nesting in sandstone appear to outweigh the associated costs in this system.
Biology Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA. Electronic address: michael.christopher.orr@gmail.com.
Michael C
MC
Orr
USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Logan, Utah 84322, USA.
Terry
T
Griswold
Biology Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
James P
JP
Pitts
1592 North 1640 East, Logan, UT 84341, USA.
Frank D
FD
Parker
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D014589:Utah