May 12, 2010: Osmia Avoseta Bee

xoxoxoBruce · 05-11-2010, 11:05 PM

There are over 20,000 different species of bees, and most of us are only familiar with a few of them. Most of us aren't aware that not all bees live in hives/nests, either. This bee, Osmia Avoseta, was recently discovered, oddly enough, by two teams on the same day, one in Turkey and one in Iran.
No, Osmia, not Osama.

Osmia Avoseta is a solitary bee that builds a tiny nest for each and every egg it lays... and what a nest it is.

Quote:

To begin construction, she bites the petals off of flowers and flies each petal — one by one — back to the nest, a peanut-sized burrow in the ground. She then shapes the multi-colored petals into a cocoon-like structure, laying one petal on top of the other and occasionally using some nectar as glue. When the outer petal casing is complete, she reinforces the inside with a paper-thin layer of mud, and then another layer of petals, so both the outside and inside are wallpapered — a potpourri of purple, pink and yellow.
These meticulous shells are just over a half-inch long and usually will house just one tiny egg. To prepare for her offspring, the mother collects pollen and nectar, which she carries back to the burrow in a nifty part of the digestive tract called the crop. She deposits this gooey blob of nutritional goodness in the bottom of the flower-petal nest. Then, she lays the egg, right on top of the gelatinous blob. At this point, it's time to seal in the egg. The mother bee neatly folds in the inner layer of petals, smears a paper-thin mud layer and then folds the outer petals. The casing is nearly airtight, which helps protect the vulnerable egg (and later larva, then pupa) from flooding or excessive dryness or hoofed animals.

I wonder when she has time to store food for the winter, and get her hair done?

link

rditlkustoleit · 05-11-2010, 11:34 PM

Reason #1,427

Why it's way easier to be a dude.

lupin..the..3rd · 05-12-2010, 12:33 AM

How do flower petals protect against hoofed animals?

And what about non-hoofed animals? Do they protect against those too? Hmm, I wonder what the ratio of hoofed to non-hoofed animals is.

darkwing duck · 05-12-2010, 09:49 AM

What about the chocolate coating?

Gravdigr · 05-12-2010, 03:41 PM

How many does it take to make soup?

squirell nutkin · 05-12-2010, 04:11 PM

When I was building an addition for my neighbor we tore off the roof and dormers. There were dozens of mud wasps nests, yellow jacket nests, and about five of these little cocoons made of flower petals. It was surprising that they hadn't faded much. I kept them for a while intending to photograph them, but I think they got trashed during my own renovation.

I wonder if they were the same bee? Coincidentally, they were near an empty pack of Turkish Cigs from the 20's

Cloud · 05-12-2010, 04:35 PM

I didn't even know there were "solitary" bees. Pretty interesting.

Trilby · 05-12-2010, 06:00 PM

Wow - amazing!

but I can't help thinking how, in her elaborate preparations, Mother Bee resembles some Mother Humans.

monster · 05-12-2010, 08:29 PM

Well I'll bee......

Shawnee123 · 05-12-2010, 08:34 PM

Aunt Bee?

monster · 05-12-2010, 11:11 PM

Queen Bea

classicman · 05-13-2010, 08:39 AM

Bea Arthur

Gravdigr · 05-13-2010, 12:41 PM

Bea(trix) Potter

Shawnee123 · 05-13-2010, 12:49 PM

05-11-2010, 11:34 PM	#2
rditlkustoleit Violator of Customs Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 49	Reason #1,427 Why it's way easier to be a dude. __________________ If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?!

05-12-2010, 03:41 PM	#5
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	How many does it take to make soup? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

05-12-2010, 04:11 PM	#6
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	When I was building an addition for my neighbor we tore off the roof and dormers. There were dozens of mud wasps nests, yellow jacket nests, and about five of these little cocoons made of flower petals. It was surprising that they hadn't faded much. I kept them for a while intending to photograph them, but I think they got trashed during my own renovation. I wonder if they were the same bee? Coincidentally, they were near an empty pack of Turkish Cigs from the 20's __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

05-12-2010, 04:35 PM	#7
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I didn't even know there were "solitary" bees. Pretty interesting. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

05-12-2010, 06:00 PM	#8
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Wow - amazing! but I can't help thinking how, in her elaborate preparations, Mother Bee resembles some Mother Humans. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

05-12-2010, 12:33 AM	#3
lupin..the..3rd Belt Conveyor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Meijersville Posts: 68	How do flower petals protect against hoofed animals? And what about non-hoofed animals? Do they protect against those too? Hmm, I wonder what the ratio of hoofed to non-hoofed animals is.

05-12-2010, 09:49 AM	#4
darkwing duck Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20	What about the chocolate coating?

05-12-2010, 08:29 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Well I'll bee...... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

05-12-2010, 08:34 PM	#10
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Aunt Bee? Attached Images __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-12-2010, 11:11 PM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Queen Bea __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

05-13-2010, 08:39 AM	#12
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Bea Arthur Attached Images __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-13-2010, 12:41 PM	#13
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Bea(trix) Potter Attached Images __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

05-13-2010, 12:49 PM	#14
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	__________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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