Anthidium manicatum

Large Wollbiene ( Anthidium manicatum ), male

The Great Wollbiene or garden Wollbiene ( Anthidium manicatum ) is a species of bee in the family Megachilidae, making it one of the solitary bees. This type stands out with a wasp -like black and yellow drawing. The yellow stripes unite not on top of the abdomen. The name is due to the use of plants for wool Brutzellenbau.

Construction of the Great wool bees

The males are much larger than the females, which are eleven to twelve millimeters in size from 14 to 18 millimeters. The abdomen of the females has a mostly regular wasp- like yellow- black markings. The yellow stripes come together on top of the abdomen not, therefore, runs a black center stripe along the topline and tapers towards the end of the abdomen and on. The drawing of the male is not regular. The yellow areas are often reduced to points or interrupted by black areas. At the end of the male abdomen are five spines. Three on Endtergit and two on the outer edge of the penultimate tergites. These thorns put the males in defense of a pairing coalfield against food competitors.

Territorial behavior of males

The males occupy territories in which several preferred by this species of bee flowering plants - for example Zieste ( Stachys ), sage (Salvia ) or the quite handsome motherwort species ( Leonurus ) - are, is where then collected from several females pollen, nectar and nesting material. Prior to these plants, the male patrols in hover, which resembles that of the hoverflies and distributes food competitors, such as bumble bees, honey bees or other males. For this purpose, it flies towards his opponent and bends just before the collision the back of his body forward so that the spines are directed forward on the abdomen end. This can lead to injury of the delicate wing of the party attacked. If these are thus unable to fly, they must starve.

Reproduction

The gathering in the respective area of a male pollen and nectar females are served by the males and usually mated on the flower. Each laying an egg the female bee in a column filled with pollen and nectar brood cell which she invests in encountered earthworks, masonry and wood holes or crevices. After oviposition it closes the brood cell with vegetable wool. From fertilized eggs of female and male animals develop from unfertilized eggs.

Larval development and flight time

The larva moults after hatching several times and eats weeks from the food supply of pollen and nectar before they einspinnt and pupates in a cocoon. The winter break is done as a resting larva. At the end of metamorphosis emerges from the pupa, the airworthy bee ( Imago ). In Central Europe a generation per year ( " univoltine " ) is the rule. In hot, long summers can lead to a second brood, but which is rarely successful. The females fly from mid-June to mid-October. The males fly from mid-June to late September.

Unusual

An unusual behavior is shown by the great wool bees while sleeping. If the weather permits, they bite into the mandibles of plant parts and can be hang. First, the wings are still apart. At low werdendem sleep relax your legs and fall down. For deeper rest the wings are applied to the body. In case of failure, the animals drop and can depart immediately. This behavior can also be observed with other species of the genus Anthidium. More solitary bee species that sleep in this way are, for example, found in the Wasps Bees. In case of rain or high winds, the Great wool bees run like other solitary bees living in weather- protected cavities, such as in still empty brood their nest boxes back.