Nesting biology of Centris aethyctera (Centridini, Apidae) in an estuarine environment

Abstract

Bees from different groups are able to make nests and complete their life cycles in flooded sites. We report the nesting of Centris aethyctera in a mangrove area subject to periodic flooding during high tide. Nests in the mangrove are submerged in salty water periodically throughout the year, including in the initial stages of nest construction and provisioning. Furthermore, this is the first report of a bee species using estuarine areas for nesting. We show the life cycle, the characteristics of the substrate, the frequency of flooding, and the rates of brood mortality. Kleptoparasitic bees attack the nests and survive until hatching simultaneously with their host. The highest brood mortality occurred during the period of nest construction and development of the first larval stages. The impermeability and resistance of the cocoon secreted by the prepupa seem to be adequate for resisting submersion. The malleability and temperature of the wet sandy-silty substrate may facilitate the construction of nests and compensate for the disadvantages of its flooding potential