Miner bees (or chimney bees) are one of many familiar black and yellow
summertime bees often mistaken for bumble bees. These, however, are solitary
bees that do not collect honey and do not sting, though they could bite
if handled roughly. They are garden pollinators and serve an increasingly
important role as honey bee populations decline. Gardeners can actually
enhance miner bee populations by providing dried mud blocks for nesting.
Some of the flowers they have been recorded visiting are azalea, Oenothera, Penstemon, Rubus, Asclepias, Cornus, Delphinium, Iris, Monarda, Nepeta, Rosa, Diospyros, Melilotus, Trifolium and Pastinaca (parsnip).
The
miner bee nests in colonies of separate tunnels excavated into the hard
clay. Females construct the nest, softening the hard clay with regurgitated
water and removing clay particles with the mandibles. Most females build
a single nest, but a few will build a second or even a third. Once the
tunnel is about an inch in length, the female begins to carry clay pellets
to the entrance to construct an exterior chimney. Tunnel lengths average
almost 4.5 inches and chimney lengths vary, sometimes reaching more than
three inches. Within each tunnel, five to eight cells are excavated and
then lined with a clear fluid released from the Dufour's gland on the abdomen.
This lining adds strength and water-proofing to the cell. Last instar larvae
may also obtain nutrients by consuming this layer.
Females collect pollen from flowers to create a pollen mass in each cell
by adding regurgitated nectar and abdominal fluid which gives it a reported
"cheesy" odor. Eggs are laid atop the pollen mass. Cells are capped with
clay and eggs hatch about five days later. After all cells in a nest are
completed, the tunnel is stopped with a plug of packed clay. Immediately
inside the tunnel plug and before the first cell is an empty chamber. This
may be to discourage predation or allow safe emergence of new bees.
Females collect pollen from many sources, but do not mix pollen within any foraging trip. Individual females live 4-6 weeks while male lifespan is less than half as long. Generally, more males are produced than are females. The bees overwinter as pre-emergent adults within their individual cells.
Males sport black mustaches for collecting plant fragrances later used in marking territories. Infrequently, males may be a nuisance if they gnaw on rose buds and flowers. Though females are only thought to mate once, a male may mate with several females during its shorter lifespan.
Management
Miner
bees living within an area may be enticed to nest in man-made nesting blocks.
One method of nest block construction is to half fill a five gallon bucket
with clean clay soil. Fill the bucket the rest of the way with water. Stir
the mixture to create a slurry.
Allow the mixture to sit a few moments for any leaves or sticks to float to the surface. Remove the organic debris and pour off the excess liquid. Pour or scrape the remaining sediment into an open wooden or styrofoam box approximately 6x6x8 inches. Allow the sediment to dry in the box for days or weeks. Some shrinkage will occur. Before the block is completely hardened, indent six to eight holes about 3/8 inch diameter and one inch deep into the open-face side.
Set nesting block on its side, open end facing East or South and raised one to three feet off the ground. Have blocks available in April for bees to find. Some degree of protection from the elements is suggested. Blocks may be placed under shelter of some kind or partly inside an open horizontal drum or garbage can. A shallow water source should be available somewhere nearby such that bees may land and collect water.
Miner bees are susceptible to predators such a birds, and parasites such as certain flies and tiny wasps (Montodontomerus sp.). It may be helpful to move nesting blocks into unheated shelters (like sheds or garages) after activity has stopped until next spring to avoid high parasitizion and predation.
Useful reading:
Norden, B.B. 1984. Nesting Biology of Anthophora abrupta. Jour. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 57(2), pp. 243-262.
Norden, B.B. 1985. Male bees sport black mustaches for picking up parsnip perfume. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 87(2). pp. 317-322.
Frison, T. 1923. Notes on the life history, parasites and inquiline associates of Anthophora abrupta Say, with some comparisons with the habits of certain other Anthophorinae. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc. 48: 137-156.
Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Prepared by: S.B. Bambara & J.R. Baker, Extension Entomologists. Some
photos by M.G. Waldvogel. Mining bees.
ENT/ORT-114 October 1998
Web page last reviewed January, 2011 by the
webperson .