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Photo#253708
cellophane / plasterer bee? - Hylaeus

cellophane / plasterer bee? - Hylaeus
Central, California, USA
July 29, 2008
Size: 6mm diameter hole
This was in a mining bee (Macrotera opuntiae) burrow in sandstone, is it from a cellophane bee?

Moved

Hylaeus?
And specifically, would anything do this besides a Hylaeus?

 
Liner.
It is my understanding that several (many?) genera of bees line their cells with glandular secretions. I don't know how you can tell the particular genera apart based only on things like this, but, yes, Colletes certainly makes such a lining.

 
"Cellophane"
I've only read about this "cellophane"-like material with reference to Colletids, with Colletes species applying it to their burrows in the ground, and Hylaeus species making it in pre-existing cavities. That's about as far as my knowledge of it goes, but I'm curious if anyone has any specific examples of other bees that might do something like this. Are there Colletes species that use pre-existing cavities rather than burrowing?

 
your information is accurate
"I've only read about this "cellophane"-like material with reference to Colletids"

correct

"with Colletes species applying it to their burrows in the ground"

correct

"and Hylaeus species making it in pre-existing cavities."

also correct

"Are there Colletes species that use pre-existing cavities rather than burrowing?"

They all burrow; Colletes do not inhabit old Macrotera burrows but Hylaeus certainly could.

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