Life Cycle: Solitary Bees - Biodiversity Ireland · 2016-09-12 · Life Cycle: Solitary Bees...

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Females and males emerge from hibernation After mating the female prepares a nest Female lays eggs and leaves a food supply of pollen. Fertilised eggs become females, unfertilised eggs become males The eggs hatch and the larvae eat the food left by the parent The larvae then overwinter in a cocoon Males and females die Life Cycle: Solitary Bees Solitary bees take one whole year to pass through a complete life cycle, and may only survive as adults for a few weeks. This isn’t long enough for them to raise their offspring, so the young bees have to fend for themselves. Some species are cavity nesters and will nest in hollowed twigs or holes in wood or masonry. One species, Osmia aurulenta, lives on sand dunes and will only nest in empty snail shells. Most solitary bees in Ireland are mining bees, and make their nests in bare ground or in south facing banks of stable soil, clay, sand or peat. All-Ireland Pollinator Plan I m p l e m e n t a t i o n c o o r d i n a te d b y t h e N a t io n a l B i o d i v e r s i t y D a t a C e n t r e

Transcript of Life Cycle: Solitary Bees - Biodiversity Ireland · 2016-09-12 · Life Cycle: Solitary Bees...

Page 1: Life Cycle: Solitary Bees - Biodiversity Ireland · 2016-09-12 · Life Cycle: Solitary Bees Solitary bees take one whole year to pass through a complete life cycle, and may only

Females and males emerge

from hibernation

After mating the female prepares

a nest

Female lays eggs and leaves a food

supply of pollen. Fertilised eggs become females,

unfertilised eggs become males

The eggs hatch and the larvae eat

the food left by the parent

The larvae then overwinter in a

cocoon

Males and females die

Life Cycle: Solitary BeesSolitary bees take one whole year to pass through a complete life cycle, and may only survive as adults for a few weeks. This isn’t long enough for them to raise their off spring, so the young bees have to fend for themselves. Some species are cavity nesters and will nest in hollowed twigs or holes in wood or masonry. One species, Osmia aurulenta, lives on sand dunes and will only nest in empty snail shells. Most solitary bees in Ireland are mining bees, and make their nests in bare ground or in south facing banks of stable soil, clay, sand or peat.

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Implem

entation coordinated by the National B

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