COMPARISONS OF NESTING MATERIALS USED FOR THE ALFALFA LEAFCUTTER BEE, MEGACHILE PACIFICA (HYMENOPTERA: MEGACHILIDAE)

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Abstract
Nesting materials for use by the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile pacifica Panzer) were compared. When all experimental designs were combined, the leafcutter bees nesting in grooved solid woods, such as pine and fir plywood, and in the polymers, styrofoam and polystyrene, produced a greater percentage of viable cells (i.e., cocoons) than those nesting in drilled boards, soda straws, K3 particle board, aluminum, or corrugated paper. Pine and polystyrene are the only nesting materials now used commercially in Western Canada and chalcidoid parasites occur in low numbers in them because the hives are made precisely. Cells can be mechanically removed from laminated grooved nesting boards so that a loose-cell system of bee management is feasible. Although more expensive initially, these boards are competitive with other nesting materials as they can be reused.