Series showing behaviour of neon cuckoo bees (Thyreus nitidulus) at Amegilla nests
About 8 years ago I made some rather basic clay and sand bee hotels in old plastic tree seedling pots in the hope of persuading Amegillas to use them. Nothing happened for the first 3 years, then in 2016 I noticed some investigatory visits from them, and in 2017 they started nesting in the pots. Two different BBB species have used the nest pots: Amegilla cingulata and Amegilla pulchra.
In early October 2021 I noticed a number of A. pulchra investigating and entering holes in the hotels. Then on 23/10/21 I witnessed some long awaited bee behaviour: a female cleptoparastic Thyreus nitidulus (neon cuckoo bee) inspecting Amegilla nests for potential egg laying sites. She was flying around, then resting on pots or leaves of nearby salvias to watch the Amegillas. She entered most of the holes, as well as landing in other places close by nearby where she could presumably see which holes the Amegillas were entering and when they left.
Recently there has been a lot more activity. The busiest place at the moment is a piece of clay from an old pot which originally had a pond plant in it. I tried to make a few holes in it, and stuck it in a container next to a couple of other Amegilla hotels. The Amegillas are going in behind the clay and obviously have nests there, as the neon cuckoos have been going in there, too. The Amegillas also chase the neon cuckoos away when they see them.
Series showing behaviour of neon cuckoo bees (Thyreus nitidulus) at Amegilla nests
About 8 years ago I made some rather basic clay and sand bee hotels in old plastic tree seedling pots in the hope of persuading Amegillas to use them. Nothing happened for the first 3 years, then in 2016 I noticed some investigatory visits from them, and in 2017 they started nesting in the pots. Two different BBB species have used the nest pots: Amegilla cingulata and Amegilla pulchra.
In early October 2021 I noticed a number of A. pulchra investigating and entering holes in the hotels. Then on 23/10/21 I witnessed some long awaited bee behaviour: a female cleptoparastic Thyreus nitidulus (neon cuckoo bee) inspecting Amegilla nests for potential egg laying sites. She was flying around, then resting on pots or leaves of nearby salvias to watch the Amegillas. She entered most of the holes, as well as landing in other places close by nearby where she could presumably see which holes the Amegillas were entering and when they left.
Recently there has been a lot more activity. The busiest place at the moment is a piece of clay from an old pot which originally had a pond plant in it. I tried to make a few holes in it, and stuck it in a container next to a couple of other Amegilla hotels. The Amegillas are going in behind the clay and obviously have nests there, as the neon cuckoos have been going in there, too. The Amegillas also chase the neon cuckoos away when they see them.