Anthidium
As wool bees are referred to the German species from the two genera Anthidium and Pseudoanthidium. The wool bees are closely related to the resin bees of the genus Anthidiellum and the bastard bees of the genus Trachusa. Modes of all four genera are solitary bees and belong to the family Megachilidae within the Bees ( Apiformes ). They come in Europe with about 30 species.
Features
The animals usually have a stocky physique with only weak pubescence. Through a yellow or white markings on black abdomen see some species like wasps. The males are larger in most species, than females. They can usually identify the basis of teeth, spines or lobes on the abdomen end. Female animals have a stomach brush with which they collect pollen.
Way of life
The wool bees build their brood cells of leaf hairs, for example, the Zieste ( Stachys ), the resin bees use for resins. The stem - Wollbiene ( Anthidium nanum ) function sets its nest from plants such as hair in from Eichengalläpfeln. In the southern Central Europe the species use both materials and build their nests out of resin and earth. The males defend the use of their spiny hind body feeding areas. Sleep at night, alone or in groups deadlocked in cavities or in plants. Females hatch, unlike most other species of bees, usually earlier than do males ( Proterogynie ).
The resin and wool bees flying in Central Europe annually in one generation from June to September, is the Great Wollbiene ( Anthidium manicatum ) can produce a second generation in favorable years.