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June 07, 2007
The Wool-Carder Bee
The Wool-carder bee, Anthidium manicatum (Megachilidae) is a Palearctic Megachilid bee that has found its way into the NE US. Unlike most bees, the males are larger than the females, and are territorial. Female bees use the trichomes harvested from plant stems to create small balls of fluff that they use to line the cell walls. I have been watching the bees in my garden for the past 5 years, and this species has been fun to observe. I'm working on a small paper about its behavior in a suburban yard. If you live in Ann Arbor and see this bee in your garden, email me.
Interesting Link: Solitary Bees Home
Posted by mfobrien at June 7, 2007 02:49 PM