Euherbstia

Euherbstia is a genus of mining bees in the family Andrenidae.[1] The only species in this genus is Euherbstia excellens, which is endemic to Chile.[1][2]

Euherbstia
Euherbstia excellens Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Subfamily: Andreninae
Genus: Euherbstia
Friese, 1925
Species:
E. excellens
Binomial name
Euherbstia excellens
Friese, 1925

These bees have been observed to make nests in hard, compact soil, using cracks to enter the ground below.[3] Females will make solitary nests.[3] The female seeks out cracks in the ground, in which she digs a tunnel down to make her nest.[2][3] She will repeatedly thump the walls of the tunnel with her abdomen, to make them more compact.[3] Like all mining bees, they will create cells which they fill with pollen and eggs, closing them off until the larvae pupate and emerge the next year.[2][3] Some larvae hibernate in a pupated state up to 2 years.[3] This is probably because these bees live in an arid climate, where it is uncertain whether it will rain enough in a year to sustain the plants they need for food.[3] As one generation of emerging adults might die because of drought, the next generation might survive, giving the species more chance of survival.

The name Euherbstia, (From Herbst, German[4]) is a reference to the activity of these bees, which is in the months of October and November.[3] Males, and females that have yet to build a nest, sleep overnight in convenient cracks in the soil.[3] Foraging activity peaks around midday.[3]

No cuckoo bee species seem to target the nests of Euherbstia.[3]

References
  1. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Euherbstia". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  2. Michener, Charles Duncan (2000). The Bees of the World. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801861338.
  3. 1928-, Rozen, Jerome G., Jr. (Jerome George) (1993). "Phylogenetic relationships of Euherbstia with other short-tongued bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). American Museum novitates ; no. 3060". hdl:2246/5021. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. "Herbst - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
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